Odesa, January 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The sailors from the Ariana, a ship released from pirate captivity, have returned to Ukraine. A Ukrainian aircraft with 24 sailors on board has landed at Odesa airport, a correspondent of Interfax-Ukraine reported.
Representatives from local government, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the presidential secretariat met the sailors on landing.
The relatives of the freed sailors were waiting for them in the airport terminal.
As reported, the Ariana, which was sailing under the Maltese flag and is operated by Alloceans Shipping Co Ltd (Greece), was captured in the Gulf of Aden on May 2. All of its 24 crewmembers are citizens of Ukraine.
On December 10, the pirates released the Ariana after the operator company paid a $2.8 million ransom.
