Turkish shipbuilder cut steel and began building hull sections of Ada-class corvette for Ukraine, reports Militarnyi.

Sources in the MoD confirmed that Ukraine’s Consul General in Istanbul was misinterpreted.
In Turkish shipbuilding tradition the production process start ceremonies are focused on keel lay down, that’s why steel cutting and hull sections construction are deemed to be pre-construction activities. Another tradition is to issue memorial coins dedicated to keel lay down ceremony, which are handed over to ship commander upon commissioning and become museum exhibits following its decommissioning.

Construction of the corvette for Ukrainian Navy commenced in January 2021, few hull sections are completed so far.

Celebrations participated by the two states first persons and dedicated to the lay down of the first corvette for Ukrainian Navy are scheduled for September 2021.

A contract for construction of two corvettes was entered into between the MoD of Ukraine and Turkish shipbuilding companies in December 2020. Turkish counterparty launched the production process following the receipt of the prepayment and as of now construction activities are conducted according to the schedule.

All technical details including the ships’ armament which is to be installed in Ukraine are already specified.

Turkish shipbuilder signed minutes with Ukrainian OKEAN plant from Mykolaiv, which will be responsible for armament installation when the final agreement is signed. UAH 3.8 bn were allocated to corvette construction program in 2021.