Sochi tourists drag naval mine ashore, ignore dangers
8:01 AM EDT, September 8, 2024
Russian Sochi is one of the most popular summer resorts for Russians. The beaches are crowded with tourists. When the sun beats down, some come up with rather strange ideas. A few people decided to drag a naval mine to the shore. This could have led to tragedy. Yet, even other beachgoers did not seem too concerned about this discovery.
Sochi is the largest summer resort in Russia. Long beaches and hot weather attract tourists from all over the country. The Black Sea is extremely popular due to its high temperature. When traveling to Crimea, which might be unsafe, is impossible, Russians return to their favorite resort in the Krasnodar Region.
The sea also offers "surprises" that are undoubtedly dangerous. A video recently appeared online showing beachgoers carrying a spherical object with protrusions to the shore.
It turns out that Russians were rolling a naval mine along the shore. Interestingly, this fact did not bother them at all. It was as if they believed nothing could harm them. Similarly, other beachgoers either watched or recorded the entire situation. You never know if such an object might explode and cause injury at any moment. Polish authorities always warn against touching or moving such findings. Sappers are always called to the scene to neutralize the object.
Naval mines a threat in the Black Sea
Both sides of the conflict use naval mines. Access to the Black Sea is crucial for both sides. The Ukrainians can use it to send grain to the world and trade with other countries. Russia, which wants to suffocate the Ukrainian economy, does everything to interfere in this regard. The Ukrainian military also aims to eliminate enemy ships from which ballistic missiles are fired.
For vessels operating in the area, naval mines are a huge problem. Sometimes it's not known where such an object might drift. There have been instances of them exploding after coming into contact with a ship or after drifting to the shore.
By throwing floating bombs into the sea, Russians are breaking international law. Mines enter the territorial waters of countries bordering the Black Sea, such as Romania, Turkey, or Bulgaria. Therefore, in the winter of 2024, NATO countries signed the MCM Black Sea memorandum concerning naval mines. The document aims to provide a legal basis for locating and destroying dangerous objects.
