The Kremlin said Tuesday that it has so far been unsuccessful in freeing Russian hostages held by Hamas and still does not know how many of its citizens had been captured since the militant group's attack on Israel earlier this month.
"Indeed, we have not succeeded so far, but we will continue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Moscow's efforts to secure the release of its citizens.
"We don't have exact information about how and when they can be returned at the moment," Peskov added.
He said Moscow would continue working with "all sides" involved in the conflict, including both Israel and Hamas, as it seeks to secure the release of Russian citizens.
Russia's ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, told state media last week that there were at least two hostages who had dual Russian and Israeli citizenship, but said the number could be bigger.
Russia has not declared Hamas a terrorist group and has repeatedly called for the creation of a Palestinian state as a long-term solution to the conflict.
Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7.
More than 5,700 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
