Russian border guards on Thursday shot dead a Ukrainian man as he tried to drive through the Russian-Ukrainian border.

"After firing a warning shot into the air, the border guard detail used weapons against the vehicle," the Russian Federal Security Service border guard department said.

The statement also said that the driver had attempted to run over a border guard.

Ukrainian border guards also earlier said the man tried to leave Russia illegally and did not react to a demand to stop.

The white Niva vehicle eventually came to a halt five meters from the border.

Russian investigators say the border guards acted within the law.

MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti)