Number of hostages held in Donbas increased up to 132, - MP Iryna Herashchenko

Ukraine's representative in humanitarian subgroup of trilateral contact group on Donbas peaceful settlement, first deputy speaker of Ukrainian parliament Iryna Herashchenko said the number of Ukrainian hostages held by Donbas militants has increased to 132 people.

She said on June 22 on air of 5 Channel, Censor.NET reports.

"We see the number of Ukrainian hostages growing, and this list now includes a reporter and civilians taken for pro-Ukrainian position. The other side does not confirm many people from the list," Herashchenko said.

She said Ukraine should not expect an exchange on July 5, as after the verification is finished, the militants will want to agree the list of prisoners again.

On June 22, Ukraine's representative in trilateral contact group in Minsk, second President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma announced he wanted to launch the hostage exchange process by July 5. On this date, another round of Minsk talks in scheduled.

Earlier, it was reported about 128 Ukrainian hostages held by Donbas militants, who want to exchange them for more than 600 of their fighters.

Prisoners' release is one of the provisions in the Minsk agreements.