The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said that the search for the missing sailors from the Volgo-Balt 199, a ship that sank off the coast of Istanbul on December 4, is continuing.

"Despite the fact that this morning 72 hours had passed since the search and rescue operation started, following the sinking of the vessel, the search has not been stopped, it is continuing," Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

He said that, unfortunately, the search operation had not brought any new results.

He said that the body of a Ukrainian citizen, a crewmember of the ship, would be sent to Ukraine on the evening of Friday.

"As for the Ukrainian citizens who were rescued, they remain on Turkish territory. The Ukrainian consulate issued all of the documents necessary for them to return to Ukraine, and they will return home soon, after the competent authorities in Turkey are provided with all of the necessary information," Dykusarov said.