Russia has reportedly claimed that Ukrainian troops and volunteers joined with Georgian soldiers in fighting against Russia during last year’s five-day war.  Celebrating the 18th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from Soviet rule, embattled President Viktor Yushchenko deflected the criticisms from abroad, in particular ‘foreign overlords’.  President Medvedev has been on a recruitment drive in the Buryatia region of Mongolia, where on a visit to a temple the President asked Buddhist monks to join the armed forces as spiritual advisers.