Russian Navy's minesweepers conduct an exercise in Baltic Sea.

According to information published by Tass on January 26, 2022, minesweepers of the Baltic fleet, the Alexander Obukhov, the Leonid Sobolev, and the Novocheboksarsk, trained detecting and destroying mines, the fleet said.
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Project 12700 (Alexandrit class) minesweeper Alexander Obukhov (Picture source: Topwar)

The minesweepers ensured the exit of Baltic fleet warships to the sea. The exercise engaged 20 warships, boats, and supply vessels, as well as airplanes and helicopters of the fleet.

The Alexandrit class, Russian designation Project 12700 Aleksandrit (for the mineral alexandrite), is the newest class of Russian minesweepers designed by Almaz and being built by the Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard for the Russian Navy.

The first ship was laid down on 22 September 2011 and was launched in June 2014. Anywhere between 30 and 50+ ships have been described as envisaged.

The main feature of project 12700 is a monolithic fiberglass hull shaped by vacuum infusion, a modern construction method that results in a lighter hull with a longer service life.

The ships of the class are designed to use various flails, as well as tele-guided and autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles to disable or destroy mines at safe distances.