BAMAKO, Mali (AP) – Jihadists stormed a hotel where United Nations staff were staying in central Mali on Friday, seizing hostages and killing at least five Malian soldiers in one of the most brazen attacks in months, the government said.

Mali’s army continued to surround the Hotel Byblos in Sevare north of Bamako, battling militants into the evening.

Officials said at least two extremists and five soldiers had been killed. The government said forces detained seven suspected militants.

Lt. Col. Diarran Kone earlier said a U.N. peacekeeper was also killed. It was unclear if the peacekeeper was included in the death toll. He said that at least six people were being held inside the hotel.

“The operation to free the hostages is ongoing,” he said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a statement based on information from its embassy in Algeria saying that the goal of the attackers was believed to be to take hostages from among the foreign citizens living in the hotel.

“According to the information available, a Ukrainian citizen may be among those foreign citizens taken hostage. In addition, three citizens of South Africa and a French citizen may be held hostage,” it said.