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Romania defuses stray mine found on its Black Sea shore

By Thomson Reuters Jun 3, 2026 | 11:07 AM

BUCHAREST, June 3 (Reuters) – Romania’s navy detonated an anti-landing mine that had drifted ​to its Black Sea ‌shore on Wednesday, the defence ministry said.

The ministry said the mine was a Russian YaRM-type that ‌had ​been reported on ⁠the beach between ⁠the seaside towns Vama Veche and 2 Mai. It did not specify the age ​of the mine.

Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey have a ⁠joint task force ⁠to defuse the stray ​mines in the Black Sea. ​Romanian soldiers have neutralized nine ‌of the 156 drifting mines that have been discovered and destroyed in the Black ⁠Sea since Russia attacked Ukraine four years ago, the Romanian navy ⁠has ‌said.

The Black Sea is ⁠crucial for shipments of ​grain, ‌oil and oil products ​and ⁠is shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by ​Alex Richardson)