Kiev  - A Ukrainian prosecutor on Thursday ordered a Russian sailor to be detained in jail pending possible robbery charges, the Ukrainska Pravda web magazine reported.

The sailor, from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, is suspected by police of leading a gang of sailors in an attack on Monday on a Ukrainian civilian.

The man was beaten up and robbed of his mobile phone.

The petty officer and the other four alleged attackers were all on shore leave at the time of the attack, according to news reports.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based in the Ukrainian port Sevastopol under the terms of a treaty expiring in 2017.

Ukrainian civilian authorities and Russian Navy command have a tense relationship, both alleging violations of treaty terms by the other side.

The most common Ukrainian complaints accuse the Russians of allowing warships to pollute Sevastopol harbour, driving lorries with cruise missiles through the city without proper permits, and consuming millions' of dollars of city utility-provided electricity and fresh water and refusing to pay for it.

In return, the Russian fleet have accused Ukraine's government of mounting anti-Russian protests. (dpa)