Ukraine's access to Sea of Azov 'temporarily' restricted: Defence Ministry
Ukraine's access to Sea of Azov 'temporarily' restricted: Defence Ministry
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Ukraine's defence ministry announced late Friday that it had lost "temporary" access to the Sea of Azov as invading Russian forces tightened their grip on the Sea's major port of Mariupol. "The occupiers have achieved partial success in the Donetsk operational district, momentarily denying Ukraine access to the Sea of Azov," Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement.

The ministry did not indicate whether Ukraine's soldiers had recovered access to the Sea in their statement. Russia stated on Friday that its forces were "tightening the noose" around Mariupol, where an estimated 80% of the city's homes have been damaged and an estimated 1,000 people remain trapped in makeshift bomb shelters beneath a destroyed theatre.

Mariupol, with its strategic location on the Sea of Azov's shore, has been a target since Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated what he described as a "special military operation" on Feb. 24. The city is located on the highway between Russia-annexed Crimea to the west and the pro-Russian-controlled Donetsk region to the east.

Russia stated on March 1 that it has blocked off the Ukrainian military's access to the Sea of Azov.

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