Ukraine is ready to force its citizens who were captured by the Somali pirates

The Ministry of Defense and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) expressed their readiness to send its units to participate in the operation to release the Lehmann Timber vessel captured in the territorial waters , on board the four Ukrainians, Kommersant-Ukraine reports.

In particular, the head of the Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant Colonel Konstantin Sadilov, told the publication that "the military, if there is an order of the commander in chief, will do everything to save Ukrainian citizens in a difficult situation." He said that there are ships at the disposal of the naval forces that can cope with such a task. Among them, the lieutenant colonel called the frigate "hetman Sagaidachny", which now carries combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea.

Fighters of the Alpha special forces can also participate in the liberation of the captured vessel, the press center said. "In accordance with international law, the region in which the ship with hostages is captured is included in the control zone of other states. However, under NATO and individual agreements, Alfa fighters can fight piracy in these territorial waters. If at one time foreign intelligence was not removed from the structure of the SBU, then, of course, our fighters could ensure the security and protection of Ukrainian security and protection of Ukrainian citizens outside the country, ”the SBU says in the official response to Kommersant's request.

Ukraine announced its readiness after adoption on June 2 by the UN Security Council of a resolution, which provided all interested states with a six -month mandate for the use of warships in the territorial waters of the pirate to fight the territorial waters.

Nevertheless, as believes in the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv, Ukraine will not be able to use the right granted to the UN. “Diplomatic relations have not been established between Ukraine and Somali, so Ukrainian warships will not be able to participate in hostage exemption operations,” the head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vasily Kirilich told the publication.

Recall, the pirates captured the German dry cargo Lehmann Timber on May 28 in the Gulf of Aden. There are 15 people on board, including four Ukrainians. On the same day, the pirates attacked the Arean ship belonging to the Maltese company and following the Turkish flag.

And on May 25-26 the crew of the Dutch ship Amiya Scan was captured, in the team of which there are Russians. Pirates threaten to kill the captives if the ship is trying to storm. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to Somalia with a request to refrain from law enforcement and continue negotiations with the invaders. The day before, the pirates demanded a redeem of $ 1.1 million for the captured ship and hostages. However, the owners of the vessel agree to pay only 700 thousand. The bargaining continues.