Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Group begins begins ninth deployment

The ninth activation of the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Naval Group MCM Black Sea will begin on March 24 in Varna, the defence ministry said.

Bulgaria will take part with the minesweeper Priboy, alongside two vessels from the Turkish navy and one from the Romanian navy.

Following its activation, the group will join the multinational naval exercise Sea Shield 2026, hosted by the Romanian navy.

The joint unit was established in early 2024 after Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania signed a memorandum aimed at ensuring the safety of maritime navigation and countering the threat of sea mines in the Black Sea.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova