Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov denied statements by the State Department that the armed forces of Ukraine allegedly continue to hold Mariupol, and suggested focusing on the data of the Russian Ministry of Defense, TASS reports.

“There is no grain of truth in these statements. We suggest that everyone be guided by the information that was provided yesterday through the Ministry of Defense and which was reported by Defense Minister [Sergei] Shoigu at a meeting with President [Vladimir] Putin,” he told reporters on Friday.