Russia’s actions in the Black Sea could lead to a full-scale war with NATO. Should a drifting mine damage or sink a ship in NATO territorial waters, it may trigger a response under NATO Article 5.
British Royal Navy officer Tom Sharp writes about this in an article for The Telegraph.
After Ukrainian forces expelled the Russian fleet from the Black Sea, Russia began using mines to hinder the export of Ukrainian grain. According to Sharp, the use of drift mines violates international standards and could lead to conflict with NATO.
Sharp highlights that mines are one of the simplest and most effective naval weapons, as they are inexpensive, easy to manufacture and difficult to neutralize. International law, particularly the Hague Convention, requires that drifting mines must be made safe within one hour, and tethered mines must be made safe within one hour if they become unlatched. Using mines to attack civilians is a violation.
However, the expert doubts that these rules apply to everyone. He believes enemies like Iran and Russia are planting mines and denying their involvement, watching the consequences from afar.
The demining process is also a challenge. Although some European navies have special forces for this, and many countries, including the United States, do not have enough resources. Sharp emphasizes that demining is time-consuming and does not guarantee complete clearance of the area.
Incidents of mine explosions in the Black Sea have been rare, with experts citing incidents such as the sinking of the Estonian cargo ship MV Helt off Odessa and the damage to the ship Vyssos in the port of Izmail.
Sharp said Russia has a variety of ways to lay mines in the Black Sea, including submarines and aircraft. The problem is that almost any ship can lay mines. It warns that Russia’s actions in this direction could not only violate international norms, but also provoke a direct conflict with NATO, given that Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania are members of the Alliance.
“If a drifting mine damages a ship in NATO territorial waters, this will become an Article 5 issue: Alliance members will be obliged to respond as if it were an attack on everyone,” concludes the expert. .
Sharp believes it is only a matter of time before Russian mining causes a serious incident that could escalate the situation.
Recall that Kursasor wrote that in September the State Duma approved a bill allowing defendants to be exempt from criminal liability if they sign a military service contract. Previously, this measure applied only to suspects and accused in the pre-trial stage, as well as convicted persons whose sentences had already taken effect.
