Almost 3,000 Ukrainians held in the self-proclaimed republics in the eastern part of Ukraine have now been released, Yuriy Tandyt, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Security Service, said.

"A total of 2,998 people have now been released," Tandyt said on Ukraine's Channel 5 on Friday.

Tandyt said the president of Ukraine "will raise the question of hostage release at the highest level."

"Virtually all leaders of states, not just us, are talking about Nadia Savchenko. She is on our list, we are ready for any configurations of release. We are interested in taking everyone who stays there, and we will do it," he said, adding that Ukraine "will do everything" to release Savchenko.