Danger in the Black Sea: How long does it take to clear it of mines?
15 November 17:04
It will take Ukraine up to five years to neutralize 400 mines in the Black Sea that got there as a result of hostilities with Russia. This statement was made on November 15 by the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk, 3rd Rank, reports Komersant ukrainskyi
According to him, Ukraine is facing a large-scale operation to clear the Black Sea of mines in the coming years. Such operations will be much more difficult than on land, because a third coordinate is added – depth.
Also, mines can drift or move along the seabed under the influence of the current.
“The main phase of demining most of the sea will take three to five years. Unfortunately, the sea will continue to throw surprises from time to time,” Pletenchuk said.
The Ukrainian Navy spokesperson clarified that the first phase of the operation, which will last from three to seven months, involves the demining of ship berths and ports.
As a reminder, in August 2024, Dmytro Pletenchuk noted that Russia lost the ability to mine the Black Sea last year. He explained that previously, the Russians had tried to drop mines by air. But after the loss of the Su-24 in 2023, the occupiers no longer made such attempts.
“Yes, there is a mine danger, so we do everything necessary to avoid possible consequences, and this is the daily work of the Navy in the first place. But they do not have the same opportunities as last year. Stormy weather can have an impact, because after a storm, mines can break away from the anchor and drift across the water,” he said at the time.
Earlier, it was reported that NATO would provide Ukraine with five mine countermeasures ships. Currently, mines in the Black Sea are not only a problem for our country. Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey also suffer from them.
