Varna to Host the Ninth Activation of the Mine Countermeasures Group in the Black Sea

On March 24th in Varna, the ninth activation of the Mine Countermeasures Group in the Black Sea (MCM Black Sea) will begin, announced the press center of the Navy (VMS).

From the Bulgarian side, the minesweeper "Priboy" with commander Captain Third Rank Miroslav Malchev will participate. Officers who will hold positions in the coastal and expeditionary headquarters of the group will also participate.

In addition to the Bulgarian "Priboy", two more ships from the Turkish Navy and one warship from Romania are also participating in MCM Black Sea.

The group was created with the signing of a memorandum between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey at the beginning of 2024. Its main task is to ensure the safety of maritime traffic and counter the threat of sea mines. In June 2024, the first activation of the group was also carried out. Its command is on a rotational basis, the Bulgarian one was from January to July 2025.

During the current activation of the group, the ships from it will also participate in the multinational naval exercise "Sea Shield" - Sea Shield 2026, hosted by Romania.