The soldiers were sent back to the United States, and a pre-trial investigation was launched.
"The Austrian people would appreciate a true and finally successful peace process for and in Ukraine which enables the country to develop its human and economic resources. Any infiltration of Ukraine by military and para-military forces from other countries is not helpful for reaching these aims," the head of communications office of the Austrian People’s Party Parliament Club said.
Discussing how the would-be mercenaries were discovered, Austrian Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Michael Bauer said that the men encountered problems with a connecting flight and had to leave the transit area to rebook flights.
US European Command spokesman David Westover claimed that the group was scheduled to participate in the Saber Guardian drills in Ukraine.
