KYIV – The killing of a Greek in Ukraine had nothing to do with growing worries of a Russian invasion there, The Federation of Greek Societies said, calling it a “tragedy” set off by “an insigificant cause,” – a clash in a cafe.

On Facebook, the group responded to reports about an incident involving Ukrainian soldiers in the village of Hranitne, near the country’s eastern border where Russian troops had massed.

It said that only one of the victims was a Ukrainian citizen of Greek descent, and not two as earlier reported although two others injured in the incident that wasn’t explained were ethnic Greeks.

Appealing to Greek media and particularly to social media commentators, the federation asked that “this tragedy not be endowed with a political character,” as tension still remained high.

The group said that the event “had absolutely nothing to do with the worsening situation at the contact line between the parties, nor with any military persecution of the local population, as imagined by certain Greek bloggers,” it also said.

“We appeal to journalists not to spread fake information, but to check and cross-check it carefully,” the statement added. The federation said there was calm in areas with big Greek populations and that, “No one is panicking.”

Greek foreign ministry summons Ukrainian ambassador

The Greek Foreign Ministry summoned the Ambassador of Ukraine to Greece Shutenko Sergii on Tuesday, to whom it delivered a demarche concerning the incident that took place in the village of Graninta in Ukraine, which resulted to the death and injury of Greek expatriates living there, it said in an announcement.

The Greek foreign ministry underlined its particular concern over the safety and protection of diaspora Greeks, it was noted, and demanded that the incident be fully investigated, and that those responsible be brought to justice.

Ukrainian Ambassador Shutenko Sergii expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and he stated that there was no political or ethnic motive behind the incident. He said that two Ukrainian citizens died, one of whom was an ethnic Greek, while two others were seriously injured. He noted that those responsible have been arrested and will face justice.