The Mines War in the Black Sea: An Unfinished Conflict

Mine warfare has become an important aspect of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea. The strategic use of naval mines represents a threat to both military and civilian ships, affecting naval and maritime security, as well as strategic stability in the Black Sea basin. The paper examines the types of mines used in this conflict, the number and locations of mines discovered in the Black Sea in the last two years, the entities involved in demining operations, and the types of vessels used in these efforts. It also addresses the future of mine warfare in the Black Sea – a region of significant geopolitical importance, serving as a strategic maritime gateway linking Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East to the rest of the world. In recent years, the region has seen an increase in military tensions as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has extended to the sea, transforming parts of the Black Sea into a dangerous area for navigation and shipping because of the use of mines.