70 mines destroyed in Black Sea since the start of war, Romanian defense minister says

Romania’s minister of defense, Angel Tîlvăr, said during a visit to Constanţa, on the Black Sea coast, that Romanian forces destroyed 5 marine mines since the start of the war, out of the total 70 found and destroyed in the sea.

"In total, 70 marine mines were confirmed and destroyed in the Black Sea, one by Georgia, 4 by Bulgaria, 5 by Romania, 7 by Turkey, and 53 by Ukraine," Tîlvăr added, according to Digi24.

According to the minister, Romania’s frigate "King Ferdinand" has participated in the five missions to neutralize marine mines in the Black Sea.

Angel Tîlvăr arrived on Thursday at the Constanţa Military Port, where he met with the leadership of the ‘Vice Admiral Vasile Urseanu’ Fleet Command and visited a series of military ships, such as the frigate ‘Queen Maria,’ a mine layer, the net ship ‘Vice Admiral Constantin Bălescu,’ and the training ship ‘Mircea.’

The defense minister highlighted the missions carried out by the Romanian navy both in the country and abroad and highlighted that it is a very complicated and demanding period for both the navy and the entire army, given the geopolitical situation at the borders of Romania and in the Black Sea. He emphasized the importance of the participation of the frigate 'Regele Ferdinand' in the EUNAVFOR MED "IRINI" operation in the Mediterranean Sea and in multiple missions to neutralize marine mines identified in the Black Sea, in the waters under Romania's jurisdiction.

The Romanian official also took time to meet the cadets undergoing training aboard the training ship ‘Mircea’ during the visit to the military port.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the visit was part of the planned tour of the minister of defense to the main military garrisons in the country. The tour is meant to allow the minister to get to know the needs of military units, as well as the challenges faced by soldiers in carrying out their missions.

(Photo source: Forțele Navale Române on Facebook)