April 27, 2026

Introducing Russia's Newest Minesweeper


Introducing Russia's Newest Minesweeper
Officials at an event honoring the new minesweepers. Saint Petersburg City Administration

The start of construction on Russia’s newest minesweeper, Dmitry Glukhov, has been celebrated in a keel-laying ceremony in St. Petersburg’s Middle Neva Shipyard. Although the Glukhov is far from ship-shape, it is the 16th minesweeping ship of its class, with 20 to 30 more expected by 2050.

On April 24, a plaque commemorating the date and geographic coordinates of the shipyard was placed on the hull. Its was named after sailor Dmitry Glukhov, who served in the Black Sea Fleet in the Second World War and was posthumously awarded the distinction of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944.

Dmitry Glukhov belongs to a new class of minesweepers designated as Project 12700 Alexandrit. Ships of this class have high-tech capabilities, including an updated search-and-detection system and submersible robots for clearing mines to depths of 980 feet. Additionally, the hull is made of fiberglass, which does not attract magnetic mines.

Nine other Alexandrit-class minesweepers are currently serving in the Russian Navy, while the remaining seven ships are either undergoing trials or construction.

Rear Admiral Mikhail Chekmasov cited an unexpected reason for the large-scale production of minesweepers: unexploded naval mines from World War II can still be found in coastal waters. Russian minesweepers destroyed 12 mines in the Gulf of Finland in 2020. Thus, building more minesweepers could save lives by clearing old, leftover naval mines.

Which waters are the minesweepers most likely to secure? “When the conflicts conclude, and both sides reach peace agreements, it is possible that our forces will be needed in the Black Sea and the Straight of Hormuz,” Chekmasov said, referring to Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine and the 2026 Iran War.

​Captain Vasily Dandykin also said he foresees plenty of work ahead for the minesweepers. “The [United] States does not have proper minesweepers, and if they are prepared to clear the Straight of Hormuz, they will need to bring ships from NATO countries.”

​While Russia’s one aircraft carrier may be slated to slip below the waves, the newest class of minesweepers is dredging up old mines and, apparently, nobly lying in wait to clean up after the rest of the world’s messes.

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