“Ukrainian nationalists continue to hold 6,253 foreign citizens from 11 states hostage as human shields,” the ministry said in a statement.
In addition, 76 foreign ships from 18 states are blocked in Ukrainian ports.
The Russian Defense Ministry explained that due to the threats of shelling created by Kiev in the territorial waters of Ukraine and the high mine danger, foreign ships cannot freely go to the open sea.
Earlier, the forces of the People's Militia of the DPR took the port of Mariupol - they freed two ships captured by Ukrainian nationalists.
47 crew members from Russia, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Ukraine were evacuated.
Also, the Russian military prevented an attempt to break through the remnants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrounded on the territory of the plant named after Ilyich in Mariupol.