KIEV: Ukrainian navy commander Serhiy Haiduk and several other hostages detained by Crimean authorities on Wednesday have been released, the Ukrainian presidential website said on Thursday.
A Ukrainian military spokesman said Admiral Serhiy Haiduk had been driven away from a navy compound in Russian-controlled Crimea by what appeared to be Russian special forces.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu asked the authorities in Crimea on Thursday to free the detained hostages and allow them safe passage out of the region.
The Ukrainian navy commander had been detained during a takeover of the Ukrainian navy headquarters in the Sevastopol area of Crimea on the previous day.
Russia's expulsion from G8 must be discussed: Cameron
British Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday that G7 nations meeting next week must discuss the permanent expulsion of Russia from the wider G8 if it takes further action to destabilise Ukraine.
US President Barack Obama has called for a G7 summit – minus current G8 chairman Russia – on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in The Hague on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the escalating showdown over Russia’s absorption of Crimea.
“I think it’s important we move together with our allies and partners, and I think we should be discussing whether or not to expel Russia permanently from the G8 if further steps are taken,” Cameron told parliament.
“That’s the meeting we’ll have on Monday and I think that’s the right way to proceed.”
Cameron was responding to questions from opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband, in a rare mention of foreign policy during the weekly prime minister’s questions session in Britain’s lower house of parliament.
The premier said any move by Russia beyond Crimea into eastern Ukraine should also result in the “toughest possible” economic and diplomatic sanctions.
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