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Ukrainian citizen Maksym Kharkin, from Donetsk, was freed by Hamas in a historic peace agreement with Israel, highlighting the importance of international cooperation. As hostages remain in Gaza and Russia, Dennis Lubinets urges for a global coalition for civilian hostage return. In ongoing conflicts, the issue of civilians held hostage by Russian-backed militants persists. Expert Dmytro Kuleba emphasizes the unprecedented nature of such crimes, while activist Oleksandra Matviychuk reports cases of Ukrainian children being held hostage. Efforts are urgently needed to address hostage situations in conflict zones.

What actions were involved in freeing Ukrainian hostages?

The release of hostages often involves complex diplomatic negotiations and the involvement of international bodies like the Red Cross to ensure safe passage. In Maksym Kharkin's case, his freedom was part of a broader peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, showcasing the critical role of diplomatic talks and international cooperation.

What measures are pushed to deal with hostage crises globally?

Authorities and experts such as Dennis Lubinets call for the creation of an international coalition to manage hostage crises. Such a coalition would unite global resources and diplomacy to negotiate releases, provide humanitarian aid, and exert pressure on entities holding civilians hostage.

Why is the hostage situation particularly severe in some regions?

In conflict zones like the Donbas region and the Gaza Strip, political and militant groups often use hostages as leverage in negotiations. The severity is compounded by regional conflicts, and support from larger entities like Russia often complicates swift resolution and negotiation success.

How are Ukrainian hostages in Russia impacting international relations?

The detention of Ukrainian hostages by Russia creates a significant strain on international relations, as it directly challenges agreements like the Minsk Protocol. These events require increased diplomatic efforts and international pressure to foster prisoner swaps and hostages' release.

What are possible diplomatic strategies to resolve hostage situations?

Diplomatic strategies to resolve hostage situations include multi-lateral talks involving UN bodies or third-party countries, negotiation of peace agreements, and swaps of political prisoners. Constant dialogue and strategic pressure on involved countries remain essential tools in resolving these crises.

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тандит Russian militants hold 110 hostages, 3,100 released since ATO launched in Donbas, - SBU Nearly 3,100 persons have been located and released from the terrorists’ captivity since the launch of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in Ukraine’s east. 110 people are still being held hostage and 490 are considered missing. 4 211 15 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

gjhjityrj Ukraine willing to make resolute action to release hostages held in Russia and occupied territories, - Poroshenko Ukraine is determined to make necessary steps to achieve prompt release of the hostages held in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories. 31 598 118 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

тандит Savchenko published "incorrect" POW lists, - Tandit Yurii Tandit, a representative of the Security Service special center on hostage release, says the lists of POWs and MIAs published by Nadiia Savchenko are "incorrect" and may harm the families of captives. 32 259 112 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

савченко заложники SBU to talk with Savchenko on disclosure of information about war prisoners, - Tandit. VIDEO Security Service of Ukraine will have a discussion with MP Nadiia Savchenko in order to prevent the publication of list of prisoners and missing Ukrainian soldiers. 75 092 314 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

тандит Ukrainian government willing to swap 228 militants’ accomplices for 48 Ukrainian hostages The Ukrainian government is ready to give 228 persons to the so-called “DPR”/“LPR” in exchange for 48 Ukrainians held hostage by the militants. 14 270 120 Incidents

"Receiving side seemed irritated," - Tandit on handover of 15 separatist supporters During the transfer of 15 persons convicted for terrorism in Ukraine, the people expressed gratitude while militants showed no signs of joy. 109 041 145 Ukrainian Politics

"DPR" militants set to release two female hostages at 9 a.m. Dec. 27 Terrorists of the "Donetsk People's Republic" have declared their intention to transfer two hostages to the Ukrainian side in the morning of Dec. 27. 23 302 151 Ukrainian Politics

SBU confirms no handover of two Ukrainian hostages to Savchenko, - Tandit The Ukrainian Security Service does not confirm the transfer of two female hostages held by the breakaway "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" to non-affiliated MP Nadiia Savchenko. 12 140 74 Ukrainian Politics

тандит Process of transferring 15 people to Russian militants about to complete, - SBU head adviser Tandit Ukraine continues its efforts aimed at releasing its prisoners from the self-proclaimed Donbas republics. 8 424 118 Ukrainian Politics

геращенко Militants demand to release 700 their accomplices in exchange for 50 Ukrainians, - MP Iryna Herashchenko The list of those, whom the militants demand to release, includes murderers and other high-level criminals. 80 153 374 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

"We know of 109 our guys held in terrorists’ prisons, 492 still considered missing in action," – SBU’s Hrytsak The pro-Russian militants hold 109 Ukrainian hostages in prisons in the occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 3 733 8 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Ukrainian government to transfer 15 women and persons with health issues charged with offenses against state to Russian militants in Donbas, - SBU Ukrainian government intends to release 15 militants’ accomplices in the coming days. 20 177 65 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

Biden supports Ukraine’s decision to unilaterally release 15 militants The United States hopes Ukraine's intention to free 15 militants will give Russia a boost in terms of implementation of the Minsk agreements reached in Belarus in February 2015. 8 477 70 Incidents

тандит Ukraine ready to release 228 persons in exchange for 58 captives, - SBU adviser Tandit Ukraine says it's ready for an unprecedented step for the release of 58 prisoners - to transfer 228 persons demanded by self-proclaimed republics' representatives. 20 933 119 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

савченко Savchenko claims agreeing with militants on "four for one" prisoner swap Ukrainian MP Nadiia Savchenko says she has reached an agreement with militants on a "four for one" prisoner exchange. 132 215 606 Previously in trend: Savchenko's talks with militants

Savchenko's talks in Minsk unlikely to help Ukrainian hostages, - Feigin The meeting of Batkivshchyna people's deputy Nadiia Savchenko with terrorist leaders Plotnitsky and Zakharchenko in Minsk will not help free Ukrainians held in the Donbas. 13 244 33 Previously in trend: Savchenko's talks with militants

Amputations, electrocuting, burns caused by acid and hot irons: SBU disclosed horrible tortures used by militants against Ukrainian hostages The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has interviewed more than 1,400 soldiers released from captivity of the “DPR”/“LPR” militants: almost all of them were tortured by the invaders. 33 473 77 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

безъязыков Colonel Beziazykov, recently liberated from terrorists’ captivity, detained on suspicion of collaborating with militants, - wife Military intelligence operative, Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Ivan Beziazykov, freed from the militants’ captivity in the summer of 2016, has been detained on suspicion of collaborating with the so-called “DPR”. 184 850 283 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

савченко SBU checks information on Savchenko’s meeting with "DPR"/"LPR" leaders Ukrainian lawmaker Nadiia Savchenko failed to notify the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) of her visit to Minsk to meet with the leaders of the so-called "Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics". 64 050 253 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

похищение плен Ukraine ready to swap 228 militants for 42 Ukrainians, - Iryna Herashchenko on Minsk talks Verkhovna Rada First Vice Speaker, presidential envoy on the peaceful settlement of the situation in the Donbas Iryna Herashchenko has reported on the outcome of Minsk talks in terms of hostage release. 14 974 85 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

108 people held hostage in occupied Donbas, 495 gone missing, - SBU 61 captives and 135 missing persons are servicemen and law enforcers. 1 882 6 Ukrainian Politics

MP Friz: Poroshenko banned special operations in Crimea, subversive activity out of question Verkhovna Rada deputy Iryna Friz says President Petro Poroshenko has forbidden special operations in Crimea. 18 448 110 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas Ukrainian hostages in Russia

“LPR” militants capture Ukrainian judge heading to his father's funeral The militants abducted Judge of the Appeal Court of the Luhansk region Vitalii Rudenko three weeks ago when he was heading to his father's funeral in Krasnodon in the territory uncontrolled by the Ukrainian government. 43 881 161 Incidents

SBU's Hrytsak on prisoner swap: "We are ready to give three for one" Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak says is ready for unequal exchange to release Ukrainian hostages. 4 414 26 Ukrainian Politics

людмила сенцова "All I want is to see Oleh at large, hug my son. I’d love to live to see it," - Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov's mother. VIDEO Mother of Russian-held Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov Liudmyla expects the Ukrainian authorities to contribute to his release and hopes to live to see her son’s return. 7 297 14 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

тандит Pro-Russian militants confirm holding 47 Ukrainian hostages, - SBU adviser Tandit Pro-Russian terrorists have areas in the Donbas unknown to SBU where they hold Ukrainian hostages. 3 352 4 Ukrainian Politics

Sentsov transferred to punishment cell for 15 days, - Deputy Minister of Justice Petukhov Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who was illegally convicted in Russia, has been transferred to a punishment cell for 15 days. 7 974 35 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

чирний Ukraine addresses Russia to extradite political prisoner Chernii.DOCUMENT The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine appealed to the Justice Ministry of Russia with a request to extradite political prisoner Oleksii Chernii illegally convicted in Russia. 7 991 30 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Putin opposes Poroshenko's stance on prisoner swap, - Peskov Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly disagrees with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the issue of prisoner exchange. 60 297 88 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Ukrainian hostages in Russia

порошенко Moscow blocks release of hostages, - Poroshenko President Petro Poroshenko has had a telephone conversation with French President Francois Hollande. The conversation was also attended by German Foreign Policy Advisor Christoph Heusgen who apologized for Angela Merkel being unable to take part in the talk. 4 622 21 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

сущенко Sushchenko could only be released through exchange, - lawyer Feygin The Kremlin-held Ukrainian journalist might be exchanged for the Russian spy recently detained in Rivne, Ukraine. 9 907 88 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Ukrainian consul still not allowed to see detained journalist Sushchenko, - lawyer Feygin Lawyer Mark Feygin was not able to see Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko yesterday, held by the Kremlin in Lefortovo prison. 2 644 18 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Militants' prisoner swap list includes persons not covered by Minsk accords, - Herashchenko Verkhovna Rada First Deputy Speaker, Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group Iryna Herashchenko says pro-Russian militants deliberately conceal the whereabouts of some Ukrainian hostages, while demanding that Ukraine exchange persons who have nothing to do with the conflict in the Donbas. 9 489 27 Ukrainian Politics

сущенко Russia's FSB says Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko is Ukrainian spy, initiates espionage charges against him. VIDEO Russia's FSB has initiated criminal charges against Ukrainian journalist Roman Suchehnko of espionage, stating he is an employee of the Main Intelligence Department of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine gathering secret data of Russian armed forces and the national guard. 21 298 52 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia

Murderer of patrol officers took hostages The murderer of patrol officers has been surrounded in a house on Chycherina Street in Dnipro city. 140 776 279 Previously in trend: Police officers murdered in Dnipro City

панов "I also want the whole world to hear that we don’t leave our people behind!" - wife of FSB-detained Yevhen Panov appeals to Poroshenko. DOCUMENT (in Ukrainian) The wife of Yevhen Panov, who was detained by the Russian security forces in Crimea and charged with plotting terrorist attacks on the peninsula occupied by Russia, called on President Petro Poroshenko and MP Iryna Herashchenko to make every effort to liberate her husband. 79 962 202 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Separatists at Minsk talks demand swapping 45 Ukrainian hostages for 600 militants, - Iryna Herashchenko Representatives of the so-called “Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” demand to exchange 45 Ukrainians they are holding for more than 600 militants arrested for violent crimes. 30 749 156 Ukrainian Politics

"DPR" leaders demand law on amnesty of all militants from Ukraine The Ukrainian authorities should adopt a law on amnesty of militants who took part in the armed conflict in the Donbas. 48 532 227 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

жемчугов Zhemchuhov and Suprun released from captivity, - Poroshenko. VIDEO (in Russian) President Petro Poroshenko confirmed the release of two Ukrainians from the militants’ captivity. 86 694 114 Ukrainian Politics

жебривский геращенко донбасс штайнмайер климкин эро “Ministers should see front line picture closer. We’re interested in their opinion on how to hold elections in Shyrokyne,” – MP Iryna Herashchenko on Steinmeier and Ayrault’s visit to Donbas. PHOTOS The fact of the visit of foreign ministers of France and Germany in the Donbas is of paramount importance as the European partners must see for themselves that no elections can be held in such conditions. 30 382 84 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Merkel, Hollande have list of 45 Ukrainian hostages held in Donbas, - Iryna Herashchenko Presidential Administration Deputy Head Kostiantyn Yelisieiev has provided the list of 45 Ukrainian hostages to German chancellor and French president's respective offices. 2 764 15 Ukrainian Politics

Terrorists take new hostages in Donetsk, - Tandit New people have been taken hostage by terrorists in Donetsk with the total number of POWs now exceeding 110. 86 424 157 Ukrainian Politics

беслан Beslan mothers detained as they blame Putin for bloody tragedy. PHOTO The court has delivered its verdict against the women accused of violating a law against unauthorized protests. 121 058 253 Photo News

‘LPR’ leader Plotnitsky offers Poroshenko to release prisoners under ‘all for all’ format Leader of the ‘LPR’ terrorist organization Igor Plotnitskiy suggested that President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko should release all prisoners of war in ‘all for all’ format. 39 166 138 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

семья плен матери "We will struggle for their soonest release:" Poroshenko meets POW families. PHOTOS During the meeting, Poroshenko dwelt on the progress in talks on release of Ukrainian hostages. 19 346 162 Ukrainian Politics

"Russia keeps capturing Ukrainian hostages for political bargaining," - Speaker Parubii Russia is trying to use the recent provocation to intensify attacks against the Ukrainian territory and justify the activity of its own subversive groups. 8 251 127 Previously in trend: Ukrainian hostages in Russia Putin's provocation in Crimea

Occupation "court" remands Ukraine's Yevhen Panov in two-month custody The occupation "court" of Simferopol held a closed session to choose a pre-trial restraint against Zaporizhia region (Ukraine) resident Yevhen Panov who Russia's FSB labeled "a member of a subversive group" that allegedly plotted terrorist attacks in Crimea. 14 132 75 Previously in trend: Putin's provocation in Crimea

суд медяник "Medianyk acted as liaison between Ukraine and separatists," - Prosecutor General Lutsenko on 2014 events in Luhansk region If former Party of Regions MP does not cooperate with the investigation, he would be charged with the 'gravest' crimes under the Criminal Code of Ukraine. 30 569 33 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine