Donbas militias holding 684 captives, ready to free 152 - Ukrainian Security Service official
KYIV. Dec 10 (Interfax - The militia in Donbas are holding 684 Ukrainian captives, most of whom should hopefully be freed by the end of the year, Ukrainian Security Service main investigative department chief Vasyl Vovk said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.
"We think we will have most of these people freed as early as [by the end of] this year. We are working on confirming the lists and having our people freed now," Vovk said.
When asked to specify how many people are being held captive, Vovk said the Security Service has accounted for 684 people.
"They are ready to hand over 152 people to us," Vovk said.
The swap could take place in the near future, "perhaps even tomorrow," he said.
As for the lists of captives, they will be "updated and agreed upon" in Minsk, he said.
Vovk said also he expected about 200 people on both sides would be handed over in the near future.
"We hope this number would be about 200 on each side. This is what is realistic in the near future, and I am speaking about next week," he said.
At the same time, Vovk noted that gangs not controlled by anyone and acting on a part of Ukrainian territory not controlled by the central government are also holding captives.
"There are some gangs that have unlawfully captured our people and are holding them, paying no attention to anyone, be it [self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic head Oleksandr] Zakharchenko or Vovk," he said.