The Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk in the Sea of Azov have been blocked by the Russian Federation for entry and exit of vessels; a total of 35 ships have been blocked, Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan has said.

"As of November 28 night, the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk in the Sea of Azov have practically been blocked by the Russian Federation for entry and exit of ships," the minister wrote on Facebook on November 28.

According to latest reports, 18 ships are waiting for the entry into the Sea of Azov, with four of them en route to the port in Berdiansk and 14 other — to Mariupol. Three vessels that have left the Berdiansk port and six ships that left the Mariupol port cannot leave the Sea of Azov and proceed to the Black Sea. Eight more ships are anchored in the two ports now.

"A total of 35 ships have been blocked. The navigation is free only to the Russian ports in the Sea of Azov. In other words, Russia has blocked the Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov," Omelyan said.

The minister said the actions by the Russian party are evidence of a targeted escalation of tensions in the Sea of Azov to destabilize the region.

"Their goal is evident. It is to block the operation of the Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov and gradually push Ukraine out of our legitimate territories, which are protected by the norms of international law," he said.