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Nearly 7,000 foreigners held hostage by nationalists in Ukraine — Russian defense ministry

Ukraine’s authorities practically don’t react to the inquiries from foreign states about saving their nationals, Mikhail Mizintsev stressed

MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Nearly 7,000 foreigners are still held hostage by militants of Ukrainian territorial defense battalions, Mikhail Mizintsev, chief of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, said on Monday.

"As many as 6,972 citizens of 22 countries, as well as crews of more than 50 foreign ships blocked in Ukraine’s seaports, are still held hostage by militants of territorial defense battalions," he said, adding that round-the-clock contacts are being maintained with the corresponding diplomatic missions.

"At the same time, Ukraine’s authorities practically don’t react to the inquiries from foreign states about saving their nationals," Mizintsev stressed.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine

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