A Ukrainian soldier secures an area outside the southern city of Odessa on May 9, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
"They were arrested yesterday. We suspect they were engaged in espionage and we are currently checking these accusations," said Kiril Rudenko, deputy spokesman for the self-proclaimed "People's Republic of Donetsk".
The spokesperson was not able to confirm whether a foreigner was among those held.
According to a local website, Novosti Donbassa, unknown gunmen burst into the Red Cross office in Donetsk and took seven people, including one French national, three local men and three from Kiev.
The seven people, all men, are being held in the regional administration headquarters, the website claimed.
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