Ukrainian Navy to Form New Mine-Defense Ship Brigade

A new mine-defense ship brigade will be formed within the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the decision during ceremonial events marking the professional holiday of Ukrainian naval personnel.

The future brigade will be based on five mine-defense ships transferred to Ukraine under the Coalition of Maritime Capabilities.

In particular, the United Kingdom transferred two Sandown-class minesweepers, Chernihiv and Cherkasy.

Three additional Alkmaar-class ships were transferred from two European partners. Belgium provided the mine countermeasures vessel Melitopol, while the Netherlands transferred Mariupol and Henichesk.

Before the full-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian Navy already maintained similar capabilities. Mine-clearing tasks were carried out by a separate division of minesweeping ships based in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Previously, the Navy used Soviet-era coastal minesweepers, including Henichesk, which was lost during a combat mission in June 2022.