Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reported that as of January 9 no Ukrainians are being held captive by pirates.

"Now there are no Ukrainians in the captivity of pirates," deputy head of the information policy department of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine Vasyl Zvarych reported.

He also noted that in 2012 six citizens of Ukraine were released from pirate captivity through the efforts of Ukrainian diplomats.

Zvarych also confirmed reports of the release of a Ukrainian, who together with three sailors of an Italian vessel, the Asso-21, was seized by the criminal group in the delta of the Niger River.

According to Ukraine's Embassy in Italy, the Ukrainian and the Italians were set free on January 8.