Kyiv cannot confirm Ukrainians were abducted by Taliban in Afghan province

14:46, 23.04.2013 1 min read

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has not confirmed reports claiming that Ukrainian citizens were among the foreigners abducted by the Taliban in Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan

"The information currently available to us does not confirm the presence of Ukrainian citizens on board this helicopter," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's acting spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis said at a press briefing.

However, diplomats are continuing to verify this information using appropriate media reports, he said.

Several foreign citizens were taken hostage by the Taliban after their helicopter made an emergency landing in Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan late on April 21.

Initial reports said that there were Russian citizens among the hostages.

However, the Voice of Russia radio station reported later, citing spokesman for the Logar Province administration Deen Mohammad Darvesh, that "the helicopter that made an emergency landing was carrying seven Turkish engineers, two Ukrainians and their Afghan interpreter."