Rowing team arrested for illegal entry

Tue Mar 20, 9:56 AM ET

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian border guards arrested Belarus's national rowing team Tuesday for illegally entering the country on a flotilla of eight boats.

The border guard service said a coast guard vessel was dispatched to intercept and detain 10 rowers who had crossed into Ukrainian waters on the border with Transdniestria, a region of ex-Soviet Moldova controlled by separatists.

Team members told officials they were unaware they had crossed the border in the southern Ukrainian region. They now face charges in court.

News reports said the Belarussians had been invited to train for the world championship in Transdniestria as reservoirs in their ex-Soviet state, further north, were still covered in ice.