As part of the Maritime Capabilities Coalition, Dutch partners have handed over an Alkmaar-class minehunter to the Ukrainian Navy.
This was announcedby Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neizhpapa.
"During the official ceremony, I had the honor of raising the Ukrainian Navy flag on the new minesweeper 'Henichesk.' The ship was named after the raid minesweeper of the same name, which was lost while on a mission covering comrades from a special forces unit in 2022," the vice admiral noted.
According to him, the "Henichesk" is intended to strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities in mine countermeasures—the search, detection, and neutralization of sea mines. With its addition, the Navy now has five mine countermeasures vessels. Previously, the United Kingdom transferred the Sandown-class ships "Cherkasy" and "Chernihiv" to Ukraine, while Belgium and the Netherlands transferred the Alkmaar-class ships "Melitopol" and "Mariupol."
In January 2024, Turkeydecided to banthe transit of two British minehunters through its waters into the Black Sea. Turkey informed all allies that it would not allow the use of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits until the war in Ukraine ends.
In December 2023, the United Kingdom and Norwayleda new Maritime Capabilities Coalition, which will supply ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea. As part of this coalition, two Sandown-class minehunters were procured.
Also, in January 2024, the commander of the Ukrainian Naval,Oleksiy Neizhpapa, stated in an interview with the British television channelSky Newsthat the Ukrainian Navy would gladly accept two British warships that the Royal Navy might have to decommission early. The ships in question were the frigates HMS Argyll and the recently refurbished HMS Westminster.
