A Ukrainian journalist held for several months by kidnappers in Syria is safe in Damascus after fleeing from her captors, her family said on Monday. Ankhar Kochneva, an Arabic speaker who was working as an assistant and interpreter for Russian media, was kidnaped in early October. The Ukrainian foreign ministry declined to comment. "She succeeded in escaping this morning and is currently in Damascus in safe hands," said her relative Dmytro Astafurov, a nephew of Kochneva. "She was able to telephone us, she is safe and sound."