Global Affairs Canada says it is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Russia.

But the department won鈥檛 confirm reports the Canadian was among four foreign fighters who had crossed into Russia to fight for Ukraine.

The Globe and Mail reported today that four foreigners, including at least one Canadian, were killed on Sunday in a firefight in Russia鈥檚 Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.

Asked about the report, a spokesperson with Global Affairs would only say the federal government is aware of the death of a Canadian and that it offers its condolences to family and friends of the deceased.

Russia鈥檚 embassy in Canada forwarded The Canadian Press a statement from Russia鈥檚 security service saying 鈥渇our saboteurs鈥� were killed by border agents and soldiers in the Bryansk region on Sunday.

The statement says the four killed were in possession of 鈥渇oreign-made weaponry鈥� and personal items, including a Canadian flag and a prayer book written in Polish.

It added that one of the soldiers killed had a tattoo suggesting he had been a member of a U.S. army parachute regiment.