Pletenchuk shared when the mine countermeasure division will start operations in the Black Sea

This was reported by the spokesman of the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, on the air  of Ukrainian Radio.

"Of the units I can mention, there are at least five mine countermeasures ships. Different classes, but they are similar. These are Alkmaar and Sandown – British. Alkmaar is being provided to us by Belgium and the Netherlands. This is the composition of our mine countermeasures division, which, as soon as the situation allows, will be able to conduct mine-clearing operations in the Black Sea area. This is something that is extremely necessary for our economy – the economy of a maritime state that relies primarily on maritime exports. And, of course, there are new corvettes that will also join our fleet. They will perform other tasks, already combat missions to protect our waters, coastline, and, accordingly, interact with other ships, cover them, and perform combat tasks at sea," said Pletenchuk.

According to him, mine-clearing operations in the waters are being conducted continuously. However, currently, these efforts are more about the minimally necessary measures to "ensure the operation of our grain corridor, civilian shipping, and navigation."

In response to the question of under what conditions our ships, including this mine countermeasures division, will be able to enter the Black Sea, Pletenchuk replied: "When the official status of the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war is achieved, and when the security level allows for these operations to be conducted."

The Navy spokesman also confirmed that hundreds of Ukrainian servicemen from the Naval Forces are currently abroad mastering new equipment and learning to interact. This, in particular, has allowed our mine countermeasures ships "Cherkasy" and "Chernihiv" to receive an interoperability evaluation according to NATO standards.

Regarding the Russian fleet, Pletenchuk stated that its operations are now practically paralyzed. Their ships are mostly hiding in Novorossiysk and are "burning" the Russian budget for their maintenance. This is also true for the landing ship "Ivan Rogov." "It is supposedly being built in Kerch, but it’s too early to talk about any threat because, right now, it’s just a ’metal shell,’" added the spokesman of the Ukrainian Navy.