About 500 Ukrainians, including six journalists, held captive by militants - Security Service

About 500 Ukrainian citizens are currently held captive by illegal armed groups operating in the east of Ukraine, an advisor to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) chief, Markiyan Lubkivsky, has said.

"About 500 of our citizens are currently in the hands of the terrorists," he said at a briefing on Friday. He also said that separatist fighters were also holding six journalists. Lubkivsky noted that the issue of speedy release of hostages was a priority for the Ukrainian authorities and that all was being done to release them as soon as possible.