Ukraine will receive naval vessels from the United States, United Kingdom and Turkey in the upcoming years, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky announced speaking before the Ukrainian Navy in Odesa Oblast on July 4.
Zelensky revealed that the long-awaited Mark VI boats designed for patrolling coastal areas will arrive in Ukraine in 2022.
The announcement comes amid reports of Russia escalating its aggressive behavior in the Black Sea.
In July 2020, the U.S. approved the sale of 16 Mark VI boats to Ukraine and equipment for an estimated $600 million. Six of the boats the U.S. will give Ukraine for free as military aid. The rest, Kyiv can purchase.
Apart from these American vessels, Ukraine will soon receive another ship from Turkey in 2023, Zelensky said.
It is a corvette, the smallest of warship vessels, that has been already being constructed for Ukraine in Turkey. Along with the corvette, Turkey will send to Ukraine Bayraktar drones.
The U.K. will also soon provide Ukraine with minesweepers and modern missile boats, Zelensky said, not specifying when it is to happen.
“Ukraine, together with the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Turkey and many of our friends from other countries, is actively implementing large-scale joint projects to upgrade our fleet, build modern naval infrastructure, and train personnel,” Zelensky said.
On June 28, a massive military exercise Sea Breeze co-organized by the U.S. and Ukraine started in the Black Sea.
A total of 32 ships, 40 aircraft and helicopters and 5,000 soldiers from 24 countries are taking part in the exercise, which last through July 10. Participating countries include the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
Sea Breeze is Ukraine’s oldest military exercise, having been held annually since it gained independence from the Soviet Union.
