The Project 1265 Yakhont, better known as the Sonya-class minesweeper, is a Soviet wooden-hulled coastal minehunter family built for mine-countermeasure work in shallow waters. Constructed at Uliis and Avangard shipyards from 1971 to 1991, the class combines twin diesel propulsion, gun armament, and mine-sweeping gear and remained in service with multiple post-Soviet navies.
The class spread across Soviet and post-Soviet navies, and Ukraine's two units were later decommissioned in 2012 and 2013.
| Operator | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soviet Navy | Original operator | The class entered service in 1971. |
| Russian Navy | Active operator | Russian forces remained the primary post-Soviet user into the 2020s. |
| Ukrainian Navy | Former operator | Ukraine's two Sonya-class boats were decommissioned in 2012 and 2013. |
| Other navies | Export operators | Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cuba, Syria, and Vietnam have all operated the class. |
Ukraine lost a Project 1265 Sonya-class minehunter as part of its mine-countermeasure losses during Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. I found no well-sourced later combat engagement for a Sonya-class vessel in the 2022-2026 phase; this entry is best treated as a 2014 seizure/loss link.
