ANKARA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye said on Saturday it has detected 275 "suspicious objects," including mines and drones, in the Black Sea since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
"Of these, 10 were identified as mines, eight as kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 11 as kamikaze unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). All identified threats were successfully neutralized by underwater defense teams," the country's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Following the outbreak of the conflict, the Turkish navy has continuously carried out reconnaissance, surveillance, patrol and disposal operations targeting mines, USVs, UAVs, and unexploded ordnance in the Black Sea, the statement said.
It added that three Bayraktar TB2 drones have been deployed to Cengiz Topel Airport in northwest Türkiye's Kocaeli province since Dec. 17, 2025, alongside two additional frigates assigned to the Black Sea to strengthen surveillance and respond to aerial and maritime threats.
Currently, four maritime patrol sorties and four UAV sorties are conducted weekly in the Black Sea, alongside helicopter-supported mine surveillance flights, the statement noted. ■
