The Donbas Battalion, a volunteer paramilitary unit in Ukraine's national guard, denies reports that it has captured 46 Chechen mercenaries fighting alongside pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine.
The battalion's press service published a statement on Facebook rejecting a claim made by one of its members that 46 Chechen militants had surrendered to the battalion near the town of Horlivka.
There has been no official comment from either Moscow or Grozny.
The Ukrainian Army earlier reported that fighters loyal to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov had asked to be allowed out of Ukraine.
Kadyrov has denied sending troops to eastern Ukraine, where the army is waging what it calls an "antiterrorist operation" against separatist insurgents.
Based on reporting by unian.net, rus.newsru.ua, and 24tv.ua