Romania defuses naval mine drifting near its coast
Ukrainian corn in a silo in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, April 28, 2022 (Photo:Inquam Photos / George Calin via REUTERS)
The Romanian Navy has carried out a controlled explosion of a naval mine drifting off that country's Black Sea coast, Reuters reported on Dec. 10, referring to Romania's Ministry of National Defense.
A Turkish cargo ship informed the Romanian Navy of a drifting mine some 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) north of Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta.
It is the fourth naval mine handled by the Romanian armed forces.
Drifting naval mines in the Black Sea have become a threat after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Romanian, Turkish, and Bulgarian mine clearance divers regularly demolish and defuse mines in their waters.
Since the beginning of the war, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine have already destroyed about 40 mines in western waters of the Black Sea.
The Black Sea is crucial for shipping grain, crude oil, and oil products, Reuters stated.
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