Neizhpapa: We’re preparing to start Black Sea mine clearance operation

"But we are well aware of this and, of course, we are preparing to launch a mine clearance operation to remove the mines from the Black Sea at the first opportunity. For this purpose, a headquarters was created, which is already developing such operations. In this area, there are certain agreements with our partners, in particular with NATO member states, regarding the future involvement in this work of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group which works permanently in the Mediterranean Sea," Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa told ArmiyaInform in an interview.

He noted that the number of mines in the Black Sea has increased several times after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. Russia, fearing a Ukrainian counteroffensive across the Dnipro River, created a whole system of mine barriers, installing anti-landing, anchor, and river mines on the river, which, of course, were washed away by the water flow and ended up in the Black Sea. "Therefore, it is very difficult to compare the number of mines that were in the sea before this tragic event with what we have today," the Vice Admiral added.

The Commander of the Navy believes that Ukraine should always be ready for further actions in order to ensure the safety of civil navigation as soon as possible. Moreover, navigation is an inseparable component of the development of the state's economy.