Pletenchuk: The demining of the Black Sea will take 3-5 years

Pletenchuk: The demining of the Black Sea will take 3-5 years

Ukraine is preparing to conduct an operation to clear mines from the waters of the Black Sea. A mine countermeasures division has already been formed, an operation headquarters has been organized, and the operation plan has been prepared. The main phase of demining the Black Sea may last from three to five years.

This was reported by the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, during a television marathon broadcast.

"The mine countermeasures division has been formed, the operation headquarters has been organized, and the operation plan has been prepared. The operation headquarters underwent training at Siversky under the available conditions. Currently, we have at least five mine countermeasures ships that will be involved in the upcoming work," Pletenchuk noted.

The spokesperson emphasized that demining the Black Sea is not only an issue for Ukraine, but also for Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Therefore, Ukraine hopes for the support of these countries in this process.

"It would be good if they also joined the operation, as there is quite a lot of work. If other countries interested in this unique experience and willing to help us join this format, we will be glad to cooperate with all those who offer their assistance," Pletenchuk said.

He also stated that the active phase of the operation will involve clearing communication paths and anchoring areas, and it will last several months. At the same time, the main phase may take from three to five years.

"Unfortunately, even after this, the work will not end. Our sappers are still discovering mines from World War II. Recently, naval forces neutralized six such mines. Every time during a storm, a new challenge arises because the mines can shift," Pletenchuk added.