You're reading: Poroshenko: Militants keep 151 persons as hostages

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced that pro-Russian militants keep 151 persons as hostages as of July 29.

Prior to the recent release of 17 hostages, their number was 168,
Poroshenko said when meeting with the mothers and wives of Ukrainian
servicemen earlier taken captive, the presidential press service said.

” Their number has decreased by 17,” the president said.

Poroshenko says that the release of hostages is a priority issue for
him, he said. And this issue needs to be addressed quickly as among the
hostages are injured people who need medical assistance, he added.