UPDATE – Ukraine hostages released unharmed, suspect arrested

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By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian special forces arrested a suspect for taking more than a dozen people hostage on a bus in Ukraine's northwestern city of Lutsk, according to that country’s interior minister.

Arsen Avakov said 13 people who were held hostage on a bus for 12 hours were rescued and none of the hostages were harmed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally held negotiations with the suspect, who identified himself as Maxim Plohoi, or Maxim The Bad, but was identified by police as Maxim Krivosh, who has two criminal records.

After initial contacts with Zelensky, the suspect allowed special forces to bring water for the hostages, who included children and pregnant women.

Zelensky also posted on Facebook an appeal to watch The Earthlings (Zemlyane) movie, a demand of the suspect, but he deleted the post once the hostages were freed.

After talks with Zelensky, he released the hostages.

The suspect was captured and arrested by special forces, while the hostages are currently being examined by doctors at a hospital.