The defence ministry reported that the Romanian navy blew up a mine, which had drifted onto its Black Sea coast on Tuesday.

Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey are working together to defuse mines that have been floating in the Black Sea since Russia invaded Ukraine 2022.

According to the ministry, local officials alerted the navy early Tuesday morning about an unknown object washed ashore near Grindul Chituc (in southeastern Romania). This area is part the Danube Delta that Romania shares with Ukraine.

In a press release, the ministry stated that "by examining photos taken on the site, it is most likely a anti-landing samine of the YaRM kind." The ministry said that the mine was set off at approximately 0950 GMT.

Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia, along with Turkey and Ukraine, share the Black Sea, which is vital for grain, oil, and oil-based products.

The Romanian Navy has reported that since the start of the war, more than one hundred drifting mines were discovered and destroyed. (Reporting and editing by Sharon Singleton; Luiza Ilie is the reporter)

(source: Reuters)