Two Russians flee Ukraine draft by crossing Bering Sea by boat to Alaska

Individuals landed at beach on remote island to avoid compulsory military service and have appealed for asylum, reports say

Two Russians have crossed the Bering Strait by boat in order to avoid conscription to fight in Ukraine and landed on a remote Alaskan island where they have appealed for asylum, according to reports from the region.

The pair beached their small boat on Tuesday near Gambell, a settlement of about 600 people on St Lawrence Island, 46 miles from Siberia's Chukotka peninsula, earlier this week.