Basic demining of the Black Sea will take about five years

The main phase of demining the Black Sea, if the war with Russia ends, will last three to five years. However, it will take decades to fully clear the waters of mines and remnants of explosive devices.

This was stated by Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy.

He noted that the demining operation has already been planned, and that Ukraine hopes to involve NATO partners, particularly countries with access to the Black Sea: Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Also, after hostilities cease, the Bosphorus Strait will be reopened to warships, allowing mine countermeasure vessels to enter the area.

According to the Navy’s estimate, the first phase of demining key areas will likely last five to eight months. Overall, however, the operation will take up to five years, although even that does not guarantee complete clearance.

“Even after that, unfortunately, we will be forced to deal with the consequences of the war for decades. Because if we still encounter mines from the Second or First World Wars in the sea, then our children will not be left without work either,” Pletenchuk noted.

It should be noted that demining of the Black Sea is ongoing, particularly to ensure the operation of the grain corridor, civilian shipping, and navigation. At the same time, mines that the Russians used to mine the waters are often washed up on the shores of Romania, Bulgaria, or even Turkey.