The Black Sea hides thousands of deadly weapons laid by Russia during the war. Ukrainian navy divers risk their lives clearing these mines. "When we approach it, we should be quiet, we should be slow – and we should be very accurate," says Vitalii, a 31-year-old diver. Mines are deadly and can drift with the currents. Last summer, three swimmers died because of these mines near Odesa. Commander Fox, head of the navy's mine countermeasures, says the number of sea mines in the area is in the thousands. Besides mines, missiles and bombs also threaten the sea after the Kakhovka dam explosion in 2022. "The total number will be many times higher," Fox warns. Even with these dangers, ships keep sailing in Ukraine’s only maritime export corridor. This route is critical for Ukraine's economy, as maritime exports deliver over two-thirds of agricultural products. Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk says, "There is parity in the maritime domain at the moment." Though Russia controls much of the coast, Ukraine has blocked their naval advantage. "While Russia may have an advantage on land and in the air, it does not at sea," he explains. Large numbers of Russian soldiers do not help at sea, where technology and precision win. Vitalii and his team move slowly and carefully to avoid triggering mines. They use special closed-circuit rebreathers to swim silently. Mines can explode from contact or sensors detecting ships. Big commercial ships are most at risk from magnetic mines. Often, divers disable sensors with controlled blasts before handling mines. This operation takes days and is dangerous, especially with ongoing missile and drone attacks nearby. "Everything can go wrong," says Fox. Despite the risks and the slow progress – only about 50 mines were cleared in 2025 – the work will continue. The British Navy gave Ukraine two mine-hunting ships, but these remain in the UK awaiting a ceasefire. Vitalii believes clearing the sea could take decades. Yet, with Ukraine’s economy relying on maritime exports, these divers will keep risking their lives, moving one slow step at a time.