A Ukrainian journalist working as a freelancer for CNN remains in detention two days after he was detained by pro-Russian separatists . Armed men from the self-declared Donetsk People 's Republic seized Anton Skiba outside a hotel in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk after he had worked for one day with a CNN television crew . Since his detention , CNN has attempted through a number of different separatist officials , including the office of the separatist Prime Minister Alexander Borodai , to secure Skiba 's freedom . CNN chose not to report his detention at the time while making efforts to obtain his release . That has not happened to date , so CNN is now publicly asking those who are holding Skiba to release him immediately . Armed fighters led by a senior official from the rebel region were waiting outside the Donbass Palace Hotel when CNN 's crew returned from a day 's work at the MH17 crash site on Tuesday evening . The official , who later introduced himself as Alexandr Kalyussky , the deputy prime minister in charge of industry in the Donetsk People 's Republic , initially accused Skiba of `` terrorism '' and of posting cash rewards for the killing of separatist fighters on his Facebook page . Kalyussky showed a folder of printed documents that he claimed was evidence , including an apparent printout of Skiba 's Facebook page . Gunmen escorted Skiba to a waiting car . The young man did not resist as he was led away . Kalyussky seized a cell phone from CNN cameraman Jeff Kehl , who tried to film the detention . Later , Kalyussky apologized and returned the cell phone to Kehl on condition that Kehl delete the video . In subsequent conversations with CNN , Kalyussky dropped the accusation that Skiba was offering cash rewards for assassinations . Late Tuesday night , Kalyussky said Skiba was being questioned for having multiple forms of identification with different surnames . On Wednesday , another high-ranking separatist official told CNN that Skiba admitted to being a `` Ukrainian agent . '' The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine said he was `` very alarmed '' by the incident . Geoffrey Pyatt , the envoy , laid the blame at Moscow 's door . He told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour the Kremlin was trying `` to use information and fear as part of its strategy to sow chaos in Ukraine . That 's a strategy that leads to a dead end for Russia . '' State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf strongly condemned what she called Skiba 's `` kidnapping '' by Russian-backed separatists . `` We demand his immediate release along with the other hostage I believe they hold , '' she said . Several international human rights and press freedom organizations have called for Skiba 's immediate release . `` I strongly condemn this incident . Journalists must not become targets just for fulfilling their professional duties , '' said Dunja Mijatovic , the representative for media freedom at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe . The Committee to Protect Journalists , Reporters Without Borders , and the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine have also expressed concern about Skiba and urged his release . `` The climate for press freedom in the volatile eastern Ukraine has deteriorated further , '' the CPJ warned . The group reported that separatists have detained up to 10 foreign correspondents in the last week who came to the region to report on the plane crash . On Tuesday , a British reporter working for the television network Russia Today and a cameraman for the Abkhazian Network News Agency went missing while reporting on clashes on the outskirts of Donetsk , the CPJ said . RT freelancer Graham Phillips and an ANNA cameraman identified only as Vadim have been missing since Tuesday , the CPJ said . They were last seen near Donetsk airport . On Wednesday , Skiba made a short phone call to CNN . He said he was being questioned at the headquarters of the Donetsk security services and added that he would `` not be available '' before the call was abruptly cut off . It was unclear whether the call was made under duress . On Thursday , separatist officials did not respond to additional requests from CNN about Skiba 's welfare . On July 11 , Kalyussky -- the separatist official who detained Skiba -- was added to the growing list of DPR officials to face sanctions from the European Union . Anton Skiba had previously also worked as a fixer for the BBC for two days in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash . A journalist at the weekly Moscow-based newsmagazine Russian Reporter told CNN that Skiba also worked for several months in 2013 as a photographer for the publication . He was working as a fixer for CNN -- a freelance position that combines journalism , translating and providing local knowledge .
CNN spokeswoman condemned what she called a `` kidnapping '' Skiba was seized day in Skiba . Skiba was taken to a waiting car by gunmen after working at the MH17 crash site . State Department chose not to report it while working for his release .