In a significant prisoner exchange, Oleksandr Boychuk, the former commander of Ukraine's only minesweeper, the *Henichesk*, has been returned from Russian captivity. Boychuk, who had been missing since the early days of the full-scale invasion, was a key defender of Mariupol.
His return was announced by journalist Bohdan Kutepov and confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. Boychuk is a celebrated figure in the Ukrainian Navy, known for his actions during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. At that time, he bravely refused to surrender his ship and managed to sail it to safety. The *Henichesk* was later destroyed in a Russian rocket strike in 2022.
Boychuk’s story of loyalty and resilience has been a source of inspiration, with his wife and sons also serving in the armed forces.
### Historic Minesweeper Removed from California Delta
**STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA** – A major environmental cleanup has concluded in California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta with the successful removal of the derelict HMCS *Chaleur*. The 140-foot wooden-hulled minesweeper had been abandoned for decades and posed a significant environmental hazard due to its heavy oil saturation.
The removal operation was carried out by a U.S. Coast Guard contractor, who used a crane barge and dive team to dismantle the vessel section by section. The HMCS *Chaleur* originally served in the Royal Canadian Navy from the 1950s until the late 1990s. Its removal is part of a multi-year effort to clear the delta of abandoned vessels and protect the area's water quality and wildlife.
Minesweeper Speedrun Community Stays Active
While there are no new world records to report, the global Minesweeper speedrunning community continues to thrive. Players are constantly pushing the boundaries of logical deduction and mouse dexterity, with a highly competitive landscape and ongoing discussions on forums and social media.
The current world record for an expert-level board stands at an incredible 29.43 seconds, set by Ze-En Ju in 2020. The record for the intermediate level is also fiercely contested, with the top times being separated by mere fractions of a second.
The game also remains a popular subject of discussion for players seeking advice, sharing challenging board patterns, or simply celebrating personal bests.
