The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that on May 7, 2025, a solemn ceremony was held in Baltiysk for the first raising of the Naval flag of the Russian Federation on the Afanasy Ivannikov project 12700 minesweeper (code "Alexandrite") with factory number 529, built for the Navy at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ, part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) in St. Petersburg. This is the ninth Project 12700 ship commissioned by the Navy.
The ceremony of raising the Naval flag of the Russian Federation on the Afanasy Ivannikov minesweeper (serial number 529) of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite"), built at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard. Baltiysk, 05/07/2025 (c) Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The event was attended by the Commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice Admiral Konstantin Kabantsov, the commander of the Baltic Naval Base of the Baltic Fleet, Rear Admiral Alexei Zhovtonozhko, representatives of the National Maritime Security Council, military personnel of the Baltic Naval Base of the Baltic Fleet.
The order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, was read out in a solemn atmosphere, according to which the minesweeper was included in the Northern Fleet. After that, the ritual of the first raising of the St. Andrew's flag was performed by the commander of the minesweeping ship, Captain 3rd rank Vasily Kolpakov.
The laying ceremony of the Afanasy Ivannikov minesweeper (serial number 529) at the SNSZ took place on September 9, 2021, and the launch was carried out there on August 9, 2024. On January 24, 2025, the minesweeper began factory sea trials in Baltiysk, and on April 23, 2025, upon completion of the tests, the ship's acceptance certificate was signed. The minesweeper was named in honor of the Hero of the Soviet Union, who commanded the T-115 minesweeper (American-built AM type) of the 6th minesweeper Division of the trawling brigade of the Pechenga Naval Base of the Northern Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Afanasy Ivanovich Ivannikov (1915 - 1996) during the Great Patriotic War. the first Project 12700 minesweeper in the Northern Fleet.
Earlier, eight Project 12700 minesweepers were built and transferred to the Russian Navy at the SNSZ - Alexander Obukhov (serial number 521, commissioned by the Navy on December 9, 2016), Ivan Antonov (serial number 523, commissioned on January 26, 2019), Vladimir Yemelyanov (serial number 524, commissioned on December 28, 2019), "Yakov Balyaev" (factory number 525, commissioned on December 26, 2020), "Georgy Kurbatov" (factory number 522, commissioned on August 20, 2021), "Peter Ilyichev" (factory number 526, commissioned on November 16, 2022 year), Anatoly Shlemov (factory number 527, commissioned on December 29, 2022) and Lev Chernavin (factory number 528, commissioned on December 25, 2023).
The lead minesweeper Alexander Obukhov and the minesweeper Lev Chernavin are part of the Baltic Fleet, the minesweepers Yakov Balyaev, Pyotr Ilyichev and Anatoly Shlemov are part of the Pacific Fleet, and the minesweepers Ivan Antonov, Vladimir Yemelyanov and Georgy Kurbatov are part of the Black Sea Fleet..
The construction of minesweepers of this project Polyarny (serial number 530, laid down on June 12, 2022, launched on April 24, 2025, scheduled for commissioning into the Northern Fleet), Dmitry Lysov (serial number 531, laid down on June 19, 2023), Semyon Agafonov (factory number 532, laid down on January 18, 2024) and Victor Corner (factory number 533, html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched on July 16, 2024). At the launching ceremony of the Polar on April 24, it was announced that during 2025 it is planned to launch the Dmitry Lysov minesweeper and lay down two more ships of the 12700 project.
The ceremony of raising the Naval flag of the Russian Federation on the Afanasy Ivannikov minesweeper (serial number 529) of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite"), built at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard. Baltiysk, 05/07/2025 (c) Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
