UK and Norway create maritime support initiative for Ukraine

Norway and the United Kingdom have joined forces to support Ukraine by forming a maritime coalition.

According to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defense, the new alliance will provide Ukrainian defenders with ships and other transport assets for conducting military operations at sea, Rubryka reports.

"The UK will lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, delivering ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine's ability to operate at sea," the statement said.

The new maritime coalition will closely collaborate with the Ukrainian Navy and the Ministry of Defense to ensure the rapid development of maritime forces in the Black Sea, continue the expansion of the Ukrainian marine infantry, and deploy river patrol boats to protect coastal and inland waterways.

Grant Shapps, the UK Minister of Defense, announced today in London the procurement of two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) for Ukraine as part of the coalition's activities.

"As the UK and Norway launch a new Maritime Capability Coalition, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will announce the procurement of two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) by Ukraine through UK Export Finance today in London," the statement said.

"These minehunters will deliver vital capability to Ukraine, which will help save lives at sea and open up vital export routes, which have been severely limited since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion," Shapps said.

This initiative comes as part of a series of new coalitions formed among NATO members to provide long-term military support to Ukraine.

In early December, Sweden, Norway, and Finland announced a contribution of €21.5 million to the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) fund to support critical municipal infrastructure and environmental investments in Ukraine.

E5P is a multi-donor fund designed to encourage investments in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly projects in the Eastern Partnership region. The fund combines contributions from the EU and a group of 24 countries, including those supported by the fund. Contributions are used as grants to support projects in the municipal sector.

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Ukrainian ships still sail under the flag of the United Kingdom despite also displaying symbols of the Ukrainian Naval Forces.

The absence of the Ukrainian flag on the vessels may be explained by their continued presence within the British fleet, even though they have been transferred to Ukraine. This could be because the ships are based in British ports and operationally subordinate to the local admiralty.

Rubryka reported that the RMK Marine shipyard launched the first Ukrainian corvette of the ADA class in Turkey, named "Hetman Ivan Mazepa."

The hull of the future flagship of the Ukrainian Navy is made of steel produced at the now-occupied "Azovstal" and "MMK" plants in Mariupol before the full-scale war.

The flagship of the Ukrainian Navy, the corvette "Hetman Ivan Mazepa," currently under construction in Turkey, is expected to join the national fleet by 2025.

It was also reported that the Ukrainian navy participated in the international Joint Warrior exercises in the waters of the United Kingdom, operating on the naval mine countermeasure ships "Cherkasy" and "Chernihiv."