Russia mined sea routes from Istanbul to Odessa. There is a documental proof - international expert Andriy Klymenko

This was reported on March 19, 2022, by a leading Ukrainian expert on the Black Sea region, a representative of the "Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies", editor-in-chief of BlackSeaNews Andriy Klymenko, reports Espresso.TV.

The warning, signed on March 18 by the captain of the Sochi seaport Vyacheslav Rumyantsev, states that 420 mines were allegedly set by the Ukrainian side.

“Due to storm conditions, anchor mines set by the Ukrainian Navy on the approaches to the ports of Odesa, Ochakiv, Chornomorsk, Pivdenny (about 420 of YAM and YARM mines) were torn off. Please be especially careful when sailing in the southwestern and northwestern parts of the Black Sea due to the possibility of detonation of drifting mines," said the Russian side.

Instead, according to Klymenko, citing his own sources, there is in fact "mining by the Russian Black Sea Fleet of recommended routes of commercial vessels from the Bosphorus in the direction of Odesa."

"This is covered by lies about Ukrainian mines set adrift by a storm". Note that mines drifting in a stormy sea can not be counted - it can only be done by those who planted them," - said Andriy Klymenko.

In turn, the authors of the telegram channel Realna Viyna (Real War) believe that the information about the Russian mining of the area between Istanbul and Odessa may be true.

“The fact is that over the past three weeks, Russian ships have regularly approached the coast of Odessa and the region, creating the appearance of landing preparations. This group of ships included not only patrol ships and LLS (large landing ships - editor) but also the minesweepers of the 400th Anti-Submarine Division. Minesweepers of 266-M and 12,700 regularly accompanied this group of ships and in three weeks of hostilities could well have completely mined the road from the Bosphorus to Odessa," the statement said.