Ukraine counts on cooperation with Turkey in demining the Black Sea

28 November, 2023 A drifting sea mine was detected in the Black Sea March 28, 2022. Photo credits: Romanian Navy Ukraine has called on Turkey to join the demining of the Black Sea, which is contaminated with explosives as a result of Russian aggression.

Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, stated this at a meeting with Mustafa Levent Bilgen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Ukraine. The press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported on this on November 27. According to Pavliuk, Ukraine is currently the most mined country in the world, with 174,000 square kilometers of territory potentially contaminated.

"Of these, 14,000 are water areas. Russia continues to drop bombs, which is a threat not only to Ukraine but also to all countries that have access to the Black Sea. That is why we hope to cooperate in this area of our common security," the First Deputy Defense Minister noted.

Ukraine called on Turkey to join the demining of territories contaminated by Russian aggression, November 2023.

Photo credits: Ministry of Defense

On behalf of the Turkish government, the Ambassador expressed gratitude for Ukraine's rescue mission to eliminate the consequences of the February earthquake in the southern and southeastern regions of Turkey. Mustafa Levent Bilgen also emphasized that the Republic of Turkey will always stand by the principles of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Militarnyi previously reported that Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria were nearing an agreement to create a joint force to clear mines drifting into their parts of the Black Sea as part of the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The parties are close to concluding an agreement on the formation of joint minesweeping forces. Previously, Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, Turkish Navy Commander, commented against the presence of naval forces from other NATO allies, including the United States, in the Black Sea.

A sea mine in the Black Sea. Photo credits: Ministry of National Defence of Romania

According to him, the presence of ships from non-Black Sea countries could further increase tensions in the region.

If approved, the joint minesweeping force of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria would not be considered a NATO operation but would be the first major joint action by the Black Sea allies since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.