On Saturday, six Ukrainian sailors, members of the crew of the ship Stevia, who were held captive by pirates in Nigeria were released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"Today, six Ukrainian sailors - members of the crew of the ship Stevia, who were held in pirate captivity in Nigeria for a month and a half, have been released," Zelensky wrote on his Instagram on Saturday evening.

According to the head of state, Ukrainians are now safe.

"We look forward to their early return to the homeland!" the president said, thanking the Ukrainian diplomats for their participation in the release of Ukrainian sailors.

As reported, on December 19, in the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, armed pirates hijacked the Stevia and took hostage eight members of its crew, including six Ukrainians.