One wrong move and it could all go wrong - the men clearing deadly undersea Russian mines

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete January 31, 2026 at 01:19 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

A team of 20 Ukrainian Navy divers is working to clear thousands of sea mines and unexploded ordnance from the Black Sea near Odesa. These mines, laid by Russia at the start of the invasion, pose a significant threat, having already killed three swimmers last summer. The danger is compounded by missiles, shells, and landmines swept into the sea after the Kakhovka dam's destruction. Despite the risks, the de-mining effort is crucial for maintaining the maritime export corridor, which is vital for Ukraine's economy. The work allows commercial ships to continue operating, bringing in essential revenue and helping Ukraine maintain parity in the maritime domain.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Gulf of Odesa 40% Kakhovka dam 50% Fox ×260% Dmytro Pletenchuk 60% Moscow 60% Russian 70% Vitalii 70% Ukrainian Navy 80% Odesa ×280% Black Sea ×390% Ukraine ×390%

Keywords

sea mines 100% black sea 90% mine countermeasures 80% underwater explosives 70% demining 70% unexploded ordnance 60% odesa 50% maritime export corridor 50% russian invasion 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.30

Source Transparency

Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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sea mines black sea mine countermeasures underwater explosives demining unexploded ordnance odesa maritime export corridor russian invasion

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