KIEV, Dec. 17 – Sailors from the Ariana, a ship recently freed by Somali pirates, are expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of the year.

"I believe that several days before New Year we will be able to bring our sailors back to Ukraine," said Mykola Malomuzh, chief of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.

According to the forecasts, the sailors will arrive at the port of destination just before the New Year. He didn't disclose the port, saying that this was classified information.