Crews of the Black Sea Fleet’s minesweepers practiced searching for and destroying mines in Black Sea waters, including shipping lanes during drills, the Fleet’s press office reported on Monday.

“Amid a real mine danger caused by the Ukrainian side’s activity of mining some coastal and water areas, the Black Sea Fleet’s minesweeping forces carried out a reconnaissance search for mines in the Kerch-Yenikale Canal and along intensive shipping routes in Black Sea waters,” the press office said in a statement.

The minesweepers’ crews reconnoitered areas to search for explosives and practiced operations to overcome and destroy mine obstacles in the daytime and at night, the press office specified.