You're reading: Statement: Poroshenko says 17 hostages released by Kremlin-backed insurgents in Horlivka, more than 150 remain captives

 Editor's Note: The following is a statement from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with mothers and women of the military, who were held captive by militants in Gorlivka. During a successful operation 17 hostages were released, and today arrived to Kyiv.

Telling the women happy news, the President said: «We are struggling to ensure that all Ukrainians who are held captive by bandits and terrorists are released. Despite the fact that these fiends are practicing inhuman tortures against our men, our soldiers have a very strong spirit and stand these tests with honour».

The President informed that the operation of the liberation of the hostages was on his personal control and was marked as «secret», as any extra information could have affected the release of prisoners. That’s why the wives and mothers were reported about the fate of their loved ones only after the final completion of all actions to liberate the Ukrainian military. «I promised you to work on this 24 hours a day. And despite the fact that we are having a very difficult situation now, life and health of every Ukrainian citizen is a priority for me”, said Head of State.

«Ukraine is proud of the courage with which you were holding on. And you can be proud of your loved ones, of how they believed in your return and fought for you», said he referring to the liberated Ukrainian military.

The President said that for today 168 hostages were held captive by the militants. «Now their number has decreased by 17», – stated the President.

Petro Poroshenko informed that he appealed to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko asking to promote conducting a tripartite meeting of the contact group to resolve the situation in the Donbas in Minsk on July 31, involving second President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, Russian Ambassador Mikhail Zurabov and the OSCE representative.

According to President, it is proposed to bring up for discussion of the contact group two questions – on the release of all hostages that remain captive within the militants, and the provision international experts’ access to the “Malaysia Airlines” aircraft crash cite.

Petro Poroshenko said that regarding the issue of the hostages it is necessary to act operatively, as there are injured among them, who require medical attention.

Speaking about the situation of Gorlivka, Petro Poroshenko stated that the town is now blocked by the Ukrainian military, but for the path that connects it to Donetsk.

He stressed that Ukrainian soldiers «do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, to protect the soldiers and to prevent the destruction of infrastructure» during the liberation of settlements.

«We do not use artillery and aircraft against residential areas, the residential sector. And in this situation we will deploy other methods – sabotage, intelligence activities, to squeeze the militants out of the city», stressed the President.