On September 29, 2026, JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ, part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation - USC) in St. Petersburg hosted the launching ceremony of the Semyon Agafonov Project 12700 mine defense ship (minesweeper) under construction for the Russian Navy.Alexandrite") with the factory number 532. This is the twelfth ship of the 12700 project launched. The ship will become part of the Northern Fleet.
Launching of the Semyon Agafonov mine defense ship (naval minesweeper) of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with serial number 532 at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant. Saint Petersburg, 09/29/2026 (c) United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC
The laying of the Semyon Agafonov minesweeper with factory number 532 was carried out at the SNSZ on January 18, 2024. The ship was named after the marine of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Semyon Agafonov (1917 - 1977), a participant in the Great Patriotic War and the Soviet-Japanese Wars, who received the title of Hero for his participation in the occupation of Liinahamari on October 12, 1944.
To date, ten Project 12700 minesweepers have been built and transferred to the Russian Navy at the SNSZ - the ships 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 16 November 2022), Anatoly Shlemov (factory number 527, commissioned on December 29, 2022), Lev Chernavin (factory number 528, commissioned on December 25, 2023), Afanasy Ivannikov (factory number 529, commissioned on May 7, 2025) andPolar" (factory number 530, commissioned on April 30, 2026).
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, the minesweepers Ivan Antonov, Vladimir Yemelyanov and Georgy Kurbatov are part of the Black Sea Fleet, both the minesweepers Afanasy Ivannikov and Polyarny are part of the Northern Fleet.
The construction of the minesweepers of this project "Viktor Korner" (serial number 533, laid down on July 16, 2024), "Sergey Preminin" (serial number 534, laid down on May 16, 2025), "Leonid Balyakin" (serial number 535, laid down on August 29, 2025) and "Dmitry Glukhov" is also continuing at the SNSZ (factory number 536, laid on April 24, 2026).
Launching of the Semyon Agafonov mine defense ship (naval minesweeper) of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with serial number 532 at JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant. St. Petersburg, 29.09.2026 (c) United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC and the press service of the Governor of St. Petersburg
