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Ukrainian Journalist Returns From Syrian Captivity

KIEV — The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says a journalist who spent more than 150 days in captivity in Syria has returned home.

The ministry said that Ankhar Kochneva arrived in Kiev on Sunday and that her health is satisfactory.

Kochneva, who has written for Syrian and Russian newspapers, was kidnapped in western Syria on Oct. 9 and reportedly held by members of the Free Syrian Army opposition group. Kochneva escaped captivity last week and headed home.

Kochneva said in an interview with a local newspaper that she walked away from the house where she was held, skirted a rebel guard post and then walked about 15 kilometers through fields until finding a villager who helped her. In another interview, Kochneva said she plans to return to Syria "to save it."

(AP)

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