The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed an address to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling on him to release Ukrainian pilot, MP Nadia Savchenko, Ukrainian film producer Oleh Sentsov, and other Ukrainian citizens being held captive illegally in Russia.

The appeal was supported by 249 parliamentarians on Wednesday.

Ukrainian lawmakers also called on Putin to use his influence on illegal armed groups in eastern Ukraine so that they immediately release Ukrainian captives held by them in the 'all-for-all' format.

They insist that Savchenko, Sentsov and other Ukrainians who were taken prisoner in Ukrainian territory, then brought to Russia and held captive illegally, must be released.