Kiev  – A Ukrainian coast guard patrol intercepted and detained a Russian man trying to make his way into the European Union with the assistance of a home-made raft, according to a Tuesday Ukraine Border Troops statement.

The suspect aged 45 set sail from Russia’s Taman peninsula near the Kerch Strait, opposite Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in the Black Sea.

The raft was constructed of discarded plastic water bottles, fabric, and binding materials, according to the report.

The Russian’s plan according to the coast guard account was to cross illegally into Ukraine via the Kerch Strait, and then travel overland to Ukraine’s border with Romania.

The Kerch Strait varies in width from 4.5 to 15 kilometres. Crew of a Ukraine coast guard cutter took the man into custody near Cape Zmeyny, roughly halfway into the raft journey.

Ukrainian medical personnel found the man to be in good health, and Ukrainian officials turned him over to authorities in Russia, where he could face illegal border crossing charges.

The man had a criminal record in Russia, and documents in his possession showed he had been in Romania recently, according to the Border Troops report.

Ukraine shares borders with Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, and is frequently crossed by illegal migrants attempting to reach the EU.

The Ukraine route is particularly popular with potential illegal migrants living former Soviet republics, who in most cases may enter Ukraine from Russia without a visa.

Ukrainian border personnel nonetheless routinely turn back persons with criminal records – a possible cause of the man’s construction of a raft, according to the report. (dpa)