Criminal group detained for robbery attacks in southern Ukrainian city

Police have detained a criminal group in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa for carrying out a number of robbery attacks. 

The five men allegedly "broke into residential buildings by squeezing metal-plastic windows", Ukraine's Internal Affairs Ministry said, Sky News reports. 

They then "threatened the owners with weapons, tied them with ropes, put pillowcases on their heads and beat them mercilessly until the victims gave them money and jewellery", it added. 

The men, aged from 37 to 53, had previously been convicted of property crimes and had "carefully prepared for each attack", the ministry said.

Yesterday, a crime boss was detained in Ukraine for selling humanitarian aid. 

At the time, the ministry said: "The police continue to carry out measures to block criminal schemes and expose people who are trying to make money from the war".