Russian officials confirm release of 13 crew abducted from tanker Curacao Trader

The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that seven Russian and six Ukrainian crewmembers who were kidnapped by pirates from a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Guinea earlier in July have been released from captivity.

Nigerian officials and officials of the Russian and Ukrainian Embassies in Nigeria had cooperated with the owner of the Liberian-flagged Curacao Trader to secure the release of the abducted sailors.

The freed hostages are currently in a Nigerian Navy base and have since undergone medical examinations. All are reported to be in good health and are scheduled to fly home to their respective families in Russia and Ukraine in the coming days.

The attack on Curacao Trader occurred on July 17 some 230 nautical miles off Lagos.

Six crewmen were left on board the tanker following the unauthorised boarding and brought the ship to Cotonou, Benin, arriving two days later.