Turkish authorities have closed the passage through the Bosphorus in both directions after a civilian ship alerted of a suspicious mine-like object.

This was reported by the Turkish state agency Anadolu.

The Ministry of National Defense, which announced the closure of the strait, tweeted about an unidentified object, reported by a civilian ship passing through the Bosphorus. A photo of the object taken from the shore was also reported.

Divers were directed to neutralize the threat.

The report regarding the mine provoked such a serious reaction because Russia had previously mined areas of the Black Sea near Ukraine and spread information through government news agency that these mines could reach the Bosphorus. See details in European Pravda's explanation (in Ukrainian).

Shortly, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that it is indeed a sea mine.

Sappers neutralized it enabling the navigation through the strait to be restored.

According to Turkish authorities, these are old-style floating mines - similar to those used by the Russians to mine the sea. Russian sources reported the placement of 420 mines earlier. Turkey has asked the Ukrainian and Russian sides for consultations. 

Read more about the Russian mining of the Black sea in the article Naval Battle of Ukraine: How NATO can help win the aggressor on the water.