The Danish Navy has destroyed an old Soviet naval mine discovered along the remote coast of East Greenland.
A civilian cruise ship expedition found the mine washed ashore in Kangerterajitta Itterterilaq, also known as Carlsberg Fjord, north of Ittoqqortoormiit in late August. The expedition reported the discovery to Joint Arctic Command.
Two explosive ordnance specialists from the Danish Navy’s Diving Service were flown from Denmark to East Greenland. The inspection vessel Knud Rasmussen then transported the two person team into the fjord.
The specialists examined the mine using a drone before conducting two controlled explosions. The first opened the casing, while the second detonated its remaining explosive contents.
Based on its condition, the Danish Armed Forces concluded that the mine had probably spent many years at sea before reaching Greenland. It was identified as Soviet in origin and believed to date from World War II.
The team’s commander said Greenland’s enormous distances and the support required to reach the site made the operation different from comparable assignments in Denmark. Surrounding rocks protected the specialists from fragments but amplified the sound of the explosions through the fjord.
The Danish Armed Forces noted that wartime ordnance is rarely encountered in Greenland because the country experienced relatively little combat.
Authorities described the mine as historical ordnance and provided no indication of any connection to current Russian military activity.
Read the Danish Armed Forces announcement
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