Number of hostages held by Russian-backed militants increased to 126, - MP Iryna Herashchenko

The total number of hostages held by the terrorists in the occupied Donbas has increased.

First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Herashchenko wrote on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

"Unfortunately, the list of hostages submitted to us by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) already includes 126 persons: the number of illegally held persons has increased due to recently detained civilians," she said.

"The militants of the so-called "DPR"/"LPR" request release of over 600 persons. 30 of them have nothing to do with the anti-terrorist operation, 60 others have been charged with commission of gravest crimes and are not subjects to amnesty while this is a sensitive issue of the discussion. Several hundred from among the remaining 500 persons requested by the militants have no desire to be taken to the occupied territories," the lawmaker said.

As reported, adviser to SBU chief Yuri Tandit said March 20 that 3,136 Ukrainian prisoners had been released from the terrorists' captivity or located in the Donbas since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. 416 persons still remain unaccounted for.