Russian invaders seek to relaunch operations in Mariupol port to export stolen metal

Russian occupiers have resumed their effort to reopen the port of Mariupol but to no avail, with the sunken Meotyda vessel thwarting the attempts.

This was announced by Petro Andriushchenko, the adviser to the Mariupol mayor, on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The occupiers have restarted their attempts to restore operations in the port because there is no other way they can take out the stolen metal and ensure basic logistics for the Russian military. Indeed, demining has almost been completed as of today. Yesterday a sunken cutter of our border guards was lifted from the bottom at the old "gate". However, the Ukrainian-flagged Meotyda ship proudly blocks the entrance to the new "gate", which is key to resuming operations," wrote Andriushchenko.

He also published a video from the port, showing the above-deck part of the sunken ship with the Ukrainian flag flying above the water surface.

The Meotyda vessel lies on the seabed by the wall within the port of Mariupol.

As reported, Russia's aggression has provoked one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes in Mariupol.The city is without normal power, water and gas supply. The mayor of Mariupol said that since the beginning of the Russian invasion up to 20,000 civilians had been killed in the city. As of today, about 100,000 civilians remain in blocked Mariupol.

The Russian invaders appointed collaborator Kostiantyn Ivashchenko as the "mayor" of Mariupol to create an image of "the city getting back to normal".