Ukraine's Mariupol, Berdyansk ports demined, ready for outgoing grain exports, says Russia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia announced on Tuesday that Ukraine's Black Sea ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk had been cleared of mines and could be used by vessels shipping grain exports out of the country.

"The demining of the Mariupol seaport has been completed. It is functioning normally, and has received the first cargo ships. The seaports of Mariupol and Berdyansk are operating normally and are ready for grain shipment," Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry Board in Moscow.

Shoygu said community facilities were in the process of restoration in the city of Mariupol, and residential areas were being cleared and that some social services had resumed functioning.

According to Shoygu, up to 97% of territory in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region is currently under the control of Russian forces. He also claimed that in the last 10 days, over 50 units of foreign military equipment were destroyed in the fighting, while 126 Ukrainian servicemen had surrendered over the last five days.

"Over five days, 126 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrendered, their total number rose to 6,489," he said.

Shoygu also added that Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine, was in routine working order.

Russia has started restoring the railway, connecting Russia, the regions of Donbas and Crimea, the car traffic from Russia to Crimea via Donbas has been opened, he said.

Shoygu said that building on the experience gained in Ukraine, the Russian army would this summer organize a training event to incorporate new methods of combat, including "practical classes."

"At the summer training period, we will pay special attention to new ways of conducting combat operations, taking into account the experience of special military operations and other armed conflicts, army tactical shooting and first aid on the battlefield," he said.

Shoygu also announced that the country would celebrate its Navy Day this year on July 31 in parades with over 15,000 sailors, up to 200 warships, 80 aircraft in Saint Petersburg and other regions, including the Russian Mediterranean naval base in Tartus, Syria.

"In the main naval parade, which will be held on July 31 in Saint Petersburg, 47 warships, boats, and submarines will take part in," he said.