Turkey's Naval Forces Discover 275 Suspicious Objects in Black Sea: What Does This Mean for Regional Security?

Daniel Kim | 2026.03.31

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Turkey's government announced on the 28th (local time) that, since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, it has discovered 275 suspicious hazardous objects in the Black Sea, including naval mines and explosive unmanned systems.

AFP and Xinhua reported that Turkey's Defense Ministry identified 10 of the objects as mines, 8 as aerial kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and 11 as explosive unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). The ministry said naval clearance divers and other units successfully neutralized all of the hazardous items.

The Defense Ministry said the Turkish navy has carried out continuous reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence missions in the Black Sea since the war began. It has also led efforts to detect and remove hazardous items, focusing on unexploded ordnance and other explosive threats.

The ministry added that beginning Dec. 17 of last year, it deployed 3 Bayraktar TB2 drones to Cengiz Topel airfield in northwest Kocaeli province and dispatched 2 frigates to the Black Sea to strengthen air and maritime surveillance and response.

At a press briefing, the ministry said 4 patrol boats and 4 UAVs now conduct regular weekly patrols in the Black Sea, supported by mine-detection helicopters that perform surveillance flights and provide operational support.