One Wrong Move and It Could All Go Wrong: The Men Clearing Deadly Undersea Russian Mines
The Black Sea is a dangerous expanse, laden with deadly remnants of war. As Ukraine grapples with the ongoing conflict, the exact number of mines and their locations remain unknown.
The High-Stakes Demining Operations
When we approach, we must be quiet, slow, and incredibly precise, explains Vitalii, a 31-year-old Ukrainian Navy diver and part of a 20-member team dedicated to demining sections of the Black Sea that Ukraine still controls.
– Enduring Danger: Mines are among the most sinister legacies of war, remaining active for decades. Underwater, they pose additional hazards as they can drift with currents and storms.
– Real-World Consequences: Last summer, three swimmers tragically lost their lives to mines off the Odesa coast.
The Scale of the Threat
Commander Fox, leader of the navy’s mine countermeasures unit, estimates that thousands of sea mines lurk beneath the surface. But these aren’t the only dangers.
– Downstream Horrors: When the Kakhovka dam was destroyed in 2022, countless missiles, artillery shells, and bombs swept downstream into the sea, posing an immediate threat of explosion.
– Exponential Threat: Fox states, If we consider all unexploded ordnance—missiles, artillery shells, aerial bombs—the total number far exceeds several thousand.
Navigating Through a War-Torn Sea
Despite the extensive contamination, maritime traffic has continued unabated. A significant number of merchant ships are still operating in this vital corridor for Ukrainian exports.
– Strategic Importance: Clearing the seabed is crucial to keeping the Black Sea ports operational. With every mission, divers like Vitalii play a pivotal role in generating much-needed revenue for Ukraine.
– Maintaining Parity: “There is parity in the maritime domain at the moment,” says navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, highlighting the ongoing tactical adjustments on both sides.
The Perilous Process of Mine Clearance
Removing a single mine can take two days and the coordinated effort of numerous boats and personnel.
– Intricate Operations: We move carefully and extremely slowly so that the mine does not detonate, Vitalii describes the arduous process.
– Approaching the Mine: As the divers get closer, they must first identify the threat. Mines typically fall into two categories:
– Contact Mines: Detonate upon impact.
– Influence Mines: Triggered by changes in sound, pressure, or magnetism.
Fox explains, Acoustic sensors detect noise and can activate other sensors. Large commercial vessels are particularly at risk from magnetic mines, which lie in wait until triggered by passing ships.
Challenges Under Pressure
To deter mines, divers utilize closed-circuit rebreathers to avoid creating bubbles, approaching their target in complete silence.
– Controlled Detonation: After identifying a mine, sensors are disabled using controlled explosions. The actual detonation usually occurs the following day.
– Surgical Precision Required: Each operation demands significant resources—20 people, multiple boats—and unfolds under the constant threat of Russian missiles and drones.
Daily Risks and Rewards
“Everything can go wrong,” Fox warns, and Vitalii recalls a frightening near-miss when he mistook a shadow for an enemy underwater drone. However, it turned out to be a pod of dolphins passing by—beautiful, yet at that moment, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of their work.
– Persistent Threat: In 2025, the de-mining group had neutralized more than 50 mines—a small fraction of what remains.
– International Support: The British Navy has provided two mine-hunting vessels to aid in these efforts, currently stationed in the UK due to the risks posed by large ships in the Black Sea.
A Long Road Ahead
Vitalii acknowledges that under current conditions, it may take decades to fully clear the seabed.
– Increasing Necessity: As the war drags on, revenue from maritime exports will grow increasingly crucial for Ukraine, compelling divers like Vitalii to continue their hazardous missions.
– Slow and Steady: We keep going back into the water—moving one second at a time, then waiting three more, he emphasizes the meticulous nature of their vital work.
With every dive, the men clearing deadly undersea Russian mines risk their lives to protect maritime routes, ensuring the lifeline of an embattled nation remains intact.