Russia: 77 Foreign Ships Besieged in Ukrainian Ports

On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that 77 foreign ships from 18 countries are still besieged in Ukrainian ports.

The ministry stressed that the danger of bombing and mines deployed by Kyiv does not allow them to leave.

Mikhail Mizintsev, the head of the Russian National Defense Monitoring Center, said that "77 foreign ships from 18 countries are still besieged in Ukrainian ports," according to Sputnik news agency on Sunday.

According to Mizintsev, the ships cannot safely leave for the open sea due to the threats of bombing and the high mine threat caused by Kyiv in the internal waters and the territorial sea.

"The Ukrainian Navy has placed mines in the docking area of foreign ships at berth No. 17 in Mariopul port, 50 meters from the Turkish ship (Azov Concord)," he added.

Mizintsev pointed out that the Ukrainian nationalists continue to hold 6,338 foreign citizens from 12 countries as hostages and as human shields.

Contributed by Israa Farhan