"According to the Ukrainian Embassy in Italy, a Ukrainian sailor, crewmember of the Asso-21, who was taken hostage on December 23, 2012 and kept by a bandit group in the Niger Delta, was released from pirate captivity today," the diplomat said. He said that 15 sailors, including two Ukrainians, were on board the hijacked vessel. The attackers, in order to get a ransom, took hostage four crewmembers - a Ukrainian and three Italians. The remaining sailors arrived on this ship at the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt on December 24, where they received assistance. Zvarych said that there were currently no Ukrainians held by pirates. Six Ukrainian citizens were freed from pirates in 2012.