76 Foreign Ships From 18 Countries Still Stuck In Ukrainian Ports, Russian General: Kyiv Does Not Want To Cooperate

Kolonel Jenderal Mikhail Mizintsev. (Sumber: Russian Defence Ministry Press Office Olga Balashova via TASS)

JAKARTA - Kyiv authorities have markedly avoided cooperating with representatives of shipowners and the state in resolving the issue of the safe passage of foreign ships from Ukrainian ports to assembly areas, said Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia's National Defense Management Center.

"Kiev authorities continue to avoid cooperating with representatives of shipowners and companies in resolving the issue of the safe exit of foreign ships to the assembly area," said Mizintsev, who also heads the inter-agency coordination headquarters for the humanitarian response in Ukraine, reported TASS April 12.

According to Mizintsev, the Ukrainian representatives refused to discuss the safe exit of the ships on the platform of the International Maritime Organization, visibly avoiding dialogue.

In his words, 76 foreign vessels from 18 countries continue to be blocked in Ukrainian ports. The ships were unable to sail into the sea, due to the high firing threats and mine warnings in Ukraine's inland and territorial waters.

"Meanwhile, the Kyiv authorities continue to avoid contact with representatives of the state and ship-owning companies, to ensure the safe passage of foreign vessels. The Ukrainian representative to the International Maritime Organization refuses to discuss this issue and visibly avoids dialogue," he said.

Colonel General Mizintsev stressed that Russia is doing its best to ensure civilian navigation in the Black, Azov and Mediterranean Seas. According to him, the Russian military opened a maritime humanitarian corridor 80 nautical miles long and three miles wide from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily local time in the southwest of Ukraine's territorial sea.

He added that he asked ship owners to put pressure on Kyiv officials, to force them to take urgent action to unblock foreign vessels, ensuring their safe passage from Ukrainian ports.