Ukrainian minehunters prepare for end of the war when skills can be used for real

Ukraine's minehunters are well trained but remain stuck until war is over

Four mine countermeasures vessels donated to Ukraine have reached Nato standards, as Ukrainian sailors take part in Exercise Sea Breeze near Weymouth.

The ships include two former Royal Navy Sandown-class vessels, HMS Shoreham and HMS Grimsby, now renamed Cherkasy and Chernihiv.

They are joined by Mariupol and Melitopol, Alkmaar-class vessels recently donated by Belgium and the Netherlands.

The exercise involves minehunters and EOD divers from across the alliance, with 11 days of intensive training focused on preparing Ukraine for post-war demining operations in the Black Sea.

PKG Ex Sea Breeze CREDIT BFBS — There are thought to be hundreds of sea mines still drifting in the Black Sea

There are thought to be hundreds of sea mines still drifting in the Black Sea, laid by Russian forces in an effort to blockade Ukrainian ports and disrupt grain exports.

For a time, that strategy worked – but shipping has now returned to pre-war levels.

The UK says Ukraine's mine countermeasures capability has played a key role in restoring maritime trade.

According to Nato personnel involved in the exercise, Ukraine has made effective use of remote and autonomous systems to establish freedom of navigation in the northwest Black Sea.

The Royal Navy has confirmed that the two UK-donated vessels and their crews have now been assessed and meet Nato operational standards.

However, the ships cannot currently enter the Black Sea. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has closed the Bosphorus Strait to all warships due to the ongoing war.

That means the vessels remain outside Ukrainian territorial waters.

For now, mine clearance in the Black Sea is being carried out by smaller vessels, drones and divers.

The first part of Exercise Sea Breeze, involving amphibious operations, took place in Romania earlier this year.

This second phase aims to ensure Ukraine's growing mine warfare fleet is ready for the day it can return through the Bosphorus and help secure its waters.