Great Britain will hand over two ships to Ukraine for demining the Black Sea

Great Britain and Norway headed a new naval coalition to help Ukraine.

As part of the initiative, the country will supply ships and other vehicles to the Armed Forces to strengthen the ability to conduct combat operations at sea. The coalition will also hand over two minesweepers to Ukraine to detect and destroy sea mines.

“The new coalition will provide Ukraine with long-term support, including training, equipment and infrastructure to strengthen security in the Black Sea,” the British Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

It is noted that Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea has significantly reduced Ukraine’s ability to export goods by sea. Therefore, strengthening the maritime capabilities of the Ukrainian military, in particular countering the threat from Russian sea mines, will help to restore Ukraine’s maritime exports.

British Defense Minister Grant Shapps emphasized that the new coalition on maritime capabilities will coordinate the support that Britain, Norway and other countries provide to Ukraine.

According to him, in the long term, this will help Ukraine “transform its navy, making it more compatible with Western allies, more compatible with NATO, and strengthen security in the Black Sea.”

It is also reported that the maritime coalition will work closely with the Navy and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to develop the Black Sea Naval Forces, as well as to modernize Ukrainian marines and river patrol ships to protect coastal areas and inland waterways.