Russian President Vladimir Putin has classified deaths of Russian troops in peacetime a state secret. <br /><br /> The move comes as Moscow stands accused of sending soldiers to fight in eastern Ukraine.<br /><br /> Putin has repeatedly denied any involvement of Russian troops in the region. <br /><br /> A report initiated by slain opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and released this month said at least 220 serving Russian soldiers were killed in eastern Ukraine last summer and earlier this year.<br /><br /> In February Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko held up passports he claimed belonged to Russian troops in Ukraine. <br /><br /> “This is the best evidence for the agression and the presence of russian troops,” said Poroshenko.<br /><br /> Russia denies intervening directly in the conflict.<br /><br /> Poroshenko shows passports of detained #Russian soldiers at #MSC2015 – HetmanAndrij pic.twitter.com/b2yMLarD09— Conflict News (rConflictNews) February 7, 2015<br /> <br /><br /> Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine last year after wrestling control over the penin
