Lithuanian troops destroy 300 kg sea mine during Baltic Sea exercises

Lithuanian military personnel destroyed a 300 kg sea mine during international mine-hunting exercises in the Baltic Sea, the country’s armed forces reported on Friday.

Commander Lieutenant Haroldas Uznys, head of the minesweeper M53 Skalvis, confirmed the neutralised object was a seabed mine. “The culmination of any mine-hunting operation is the neutralisation of the explosive. Minesweepers have two methods to destroy underwater threats: diver demining teams or underwater robots,” he said.

The Lithuanian Naval Forces’ minesweeper M53 Skalvis, soldiers from the General Kazimieras Nestoras Sapiega Fusilier Battalion, and a rotation of Portuguese marine infantry stationed in Lithuania participated in the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS 2026) exercises from June 4–19.

Held annually since 1972, BALTOPS aims to strengthen NATO allies’ and partners’ ability to operate together, secure Baltic Sea communication lines, and contribute to collective European defence and deterrence. Key objectives include enhancing interoperability among NATO forces, refining command and control procedures, testing new capabilities, and ensuring cohesive teamwork in dynamic security environments. The drills also demonstrate the Alliance’s readiness to ensure security and freedom of navigation in the Baltic Sea region.

Around 6,000 troops from 15 NATO member states took part in this year’s exercises.