4 Mar 2022 12:44

Three Russian ships, 1 yacht detained in France - Russian ambassador

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - Russian Ambassador in Paris Alexei Meshkov has reported the detention of three Russian ships and one yacht in France.

"Three Russian ships and one yacht have been detained," Meshkov said on the Rossiya 24 television channel (VGTRK).

Russian ships have been detained "practically without explanation," he said.

"No one can tell when courts might give such orders," Meshkov said.

A number of European media outlets said on Thursday that France allowed for the freezing of assets of over 500 individuals and legal entities due to sanctions against Russia. The media said that the French authorities had detained four freighters and one yacht.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a special military operation in Ukraine early in the morning on February 24. The West responded with massive restrictions on Russia.