A large group of Ukrainian military sailors is being trained in Great Britain to operate mine countermeasures vessels, two of which will be transferred to the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine soon.
Source: Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko
Ukraine needs mine countermeasures ships to secure the safe passage of merchant vessels across the Black Sea.
“Great Britain continues to support Ukraine in the confrontation with the Russian invaders, including preparing to hand over several mine countermeasures vessels to our country. I recently visited one of them,” said Prystaiko.
According to him, our military is already being trained on one of the vessels.
“After the start of a full-scale war in Ukraine, our priorities shifted – we need mine countermeasures vessels. Two is the initial number we are currently working with. These are vessels that are in service with Her Majesty’s naval forces,” the Ambassador noted.
These vessels will be updated and equipped according to Ukraine’s needs.
Prystaiko also noted that the support program for the Ukrainian Navy is part of the ongoing commitment of the United Kingdom to support Ukraine in its fight against an unprovoked invasion of Russia and involves more than 2.3 billion pounds of military aid, including more than 5 thousand units of the new generation of light anti-tank weapons NLAW and rocket launcher systems fire M270.