The UK and Norway led a Maritime Capability Coalition to support Ukraine

The UK and Norway have led a new Maritime Capability Coalition to help Ukraine.

The press service of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom reported about this on December 10.

New coalition will deliver ships and other vehicles to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.

The Maritime Capability Coalition will work closely with the Ukrainian Navy Forces and the Ministry of Defence to provide long-term support to Ukraine, including training, equipment and infrastructure to strengthen security in the Black Sea.

The initiative will also help Ukraine develop its marines and acquire river patrol vessels to protect coastal and inland waterways.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also confirmed the transfer of two Sandown-class minehunters from the Royal Navy to Ukraine.

“These minehunters will deliver vital capability to Ukraine that 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,” he said.

It is known that the initiative of the UK and Norway is part of a “series of new coalitions” formed among NATO members to ensure long-term military assistance for Ukraine.

As previously reported, the Ukrainian Navy is planning to create a full-fledged minesweeping division. The creation of such a formation, in particular, is required to ensure the safety of civil shipping.

Currently, the Navy Forces already have two Sandown minehunters Chernihiv and Cherkasy, which are currently temporarily stationed in the UK. The Ukrainian Navy Forces received these ships under an agreement between Ukraine and the UK, which was ratified in January 2022.

The United Kingdom handed over former Royal Navy Ramsey and Blyth minehunters to Ukraine.

According to the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksii Neizhpapa, minehunters Chernihiv and Cherkasy will be the first to take part in mine clearance operations in the Black Sea with the release of the sea from mines to protect civilian shipping.