Russia has claimed that Ukraine has blocked the movement of 50 foreign ships in the Azov and Black Seas.
“Over 6,900 citizens from 16 foreign countries, as well as the crews of more than 50 foreign ships, which are blocked in seaports due to the high mine danger created by Ukraine in violation of international humanitarian law, continue to be held hostage by Ukrainian neo-Nazis as a 'human shield' in the Azov and Black Seas," Chief of Russia’s National Defense Control Center Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev said.
Mizintsev added that they are citizens of Azerbaijan, Greece, Georgia, Egypt, India, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, the Philippines, Jamaica and a number of other countries.
“According to the fate of these persons, we have organized round-the-clock work with representatives of the relevant diplomatic departments, " he added.