KIEV, July 22 – The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has presented a note to Libya's charge d'affaires in Ukraine regarding the seizure of a ship with Ukrainian sailors by unidentified gunmen in Benghazi (Libya), the ministry's information policy department has reported.

"During the meeting, Ukraine's special representative for the Middle East and Africa, Hennadiy Latiy, expressed the deep concern of the Ukrainian side in connection with the actions of the armed Libyan citizens, and noted that the Ukrainian side sees this incident as a hostile action, indicating the inability of the official Libyan authorities to control the situation with the observance of the law in the country," reads the statement.

The ministry also noted that Latiy announced a demand for the immediate release of the ship and its crew in accordance with international law, ensure the safety of sailors during the vessel's stay in port, as well as a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident in order to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in future.