Russia to open sea corridor for foreign ships to Black Sea: Local media

Corridors to operate from 8 am to 7 pm local time daily, media reports cite Russian Defense Ministry

ANKARA:

Russia will open sea corridors for foreign ships to the Black Sea, according to local media on Wednesday.

"In order to ensure the safe exit of foreign vessels from the port of Mariupol, a 115-mile-long and two-mile-wide corridor towards the Black Sea will be organized,” said the state-run TASS news agency citing Russian Defense Ministry sources.

As a result of measures taken by the Russian navy, the danger of mines has been eliminated in the port of Mariupol, and measures to rebuild the port infrastructure are also underway, it noted.

At least 3,974 civilians have been killed and 4,654 injured since the war in Ukraine began on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates. The true toll is believed to be much higher.

Nearly 6.6 million people have fled to other countries, while more than 7.7 million have been internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.