In 2025, the naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will have a full mine action division in the Black Sea, consisting of five ships and three boats.

This was stated on Thursday by commander of the AFU Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neyizhpapa, in an interview with ArmyInform.

"In 2023, two mine-fighting ships (Great Britain) were handed over to us. In 2025 we will receive three more ships (two from the Netherlands and one from Belgium) and three boats. Then, at the end of 2025, we will have a full division of five warships and three boats, which are completely repaired, equipped with modern mine protection systems, with a trained crew, but most importantly, we will have a headquarters, because arms and legs do not work without a head," he said.

The Vice Admiral also noted that the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is gradually approaching the implementation of mine clearance, now attention is focused on finding drifting mines, often mine clearance takes place under the gun of the enemy. Neyizhpapa noted that full mine clearance is possible only in peacetime, and the participation of partners would significantly accelerate this process.

"The NATO countries that have access to the Black Sea, and these are Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania — they created a trilateral Mine Action tactical group, began their actions, focusing on ‘drifting’ mines in the waters of these countries. We have common views, and with their help we can do it even faster … Of course, partners can help to carry out a large—scale mine action, and then mine clearance will be faster, but if we have all these means, we will clear the Ukrainian waters of the Black Sea ourselves, just not so fast," Neyizhpapa said.

As earlier reported, in February 2024, Ukraine began to create a group of mine action forces in the Black Sea. A resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers was adopted, which will allow raising funds for the supply and maintenance of mine action ships.