Britain sends underwater drones to clear Ukraine's grain exports of mines

MADRID, 28 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The British Ministry of Defense announced this Saturday that it is sending underwater drones to Ukraine to clear its coastline of mines with the aim of clearing food supply routes, trapped for months due to the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian personnel in Britain will receive training on how to use the machines in the waters off the Ukrainian coast.

The Defense portfolio has specified in a statement that they will specifically send six autonomous mine search vehicles. "Three of these will be sourced from UK stocks, a further three will be purchased from industry," the letter reads.

These autonomous vehicles would be designed for use in shallow coastal environments, since they operate effectively in the first 100 meters. The Ukrainian Armed Forces could --with these drones-- detect, locate and identify mines through a series of sensors.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has assured that this equipment and training are "vital" to make these waters "safe." "Russia's cynical attempts to withhold the world's food supply must not be allowed to succeed," he said.

The British Executive has accused Moscow of militarizing food by destroying Ukrainian agriculture and blocking Black Sea ports to prevent shipments to other countries in the world.

Supplies have resumed following an agreement brokered by the UN and Turkey with kyiv and Moscow. However, Britain's Defense Ministry has indicated that efforts to move food out of the country continue to be hampered by sea mines by Russian forces.

Chief of the British Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Ben Key, said: "This training is yet another powerful demonstration of the UK's continued commitment to Ukraine as it fights to defend its country and repel Russian aggression."