Get the facts right: Russian embassy slams UK govt over mine 'detection' near Ukraine ports

The Russian embassy in London on Monday (29) said that the British defence ministry's allegations about mines being left by Russian forces near Ukrainian Black Sea ports were not in tune with reality.

"We took note of the UK’s ministry of defence press-release announcing the forthcoming delivery of six autonomous mine-hunting vehicles to Ukraine to help detect Russian mines in the waters off its coast," it said.

The relevant statement also states that "efforts to get food out of the country continue to be hampered by sea mines left by Russian forces along Ukraine’s coast". This narrative, in our view, intentionally distorts reality," it said.

According to the embassy, "the export of grains from the Ukrainian-controlled ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny has been continuously disrupted by naval mines positioned in their direct vicinity by the Ukrainian Navy ostensibly to defend them from seaborne landing."

"Back in March, the relevant Russian agencies reported that Ukraine had placed around 420 mines in areas adjacent to the ports. Most of these devices were manufactured in the first half of the XX century and were therefore in technically deficient state," it said.

"We call on the British ministry of defence to verify all incoming information and steer clear of unsubstantiated allegations," the embassy added.

On Saturday (27), the British defence ministry said that it planned to give Ukraine six underwater drones to Ukraine to shield its coastlines from mines and ensure shipment of grains to the war-ravaged nation.