Britain and Norway have announced they will lead a coalition to bolster the Ukrainian navy amid the Russian invasion, including through the supply of mine-hunting ships, amphibious armoured vehicles and raiding boats.
A UK Royal Navy minehunter vessel.Photo: PO(Phot) Paul Punter/MOD, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The UK and Norwegian governments unveiled the initiative on Monday, The Kyiv Independent website reported.
Western allies will provide Ukraine’s navy with training, equipment such as ships and vehicles, and infrastructure, to bolster security in the Black Sea, amid Russia’s invasion, British officials said.
The UK is set to supply Ukraine with 20 Viking amphibious armoured vehicles and 23 raiding boats, as well as two minehunter vessels, among other assistance, the Institute for the Study of War reported.
Western support for Ukraine’s „maritime capability” will be „long term to help Ukraine transform its navy, making it more compatible with Western allies, more interoperable with NATO, and bolstering security in the Black Sea,” according to officials in London.
Russia planning blockade of Ukraine’s Kupyansk?
Russian forces on Monday conducted offensive operations in Ukraine along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast, and advanced in some areas, according to the ISW.
Russia is seeking to capture the village of Synkivka in Kharkiv Oblast, hoping to pave the way for the blockade of nearby Kupyansk, Ukraine’s Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Ukraine on Monday continued its counteroffensive operations in Zaporizhzhia province, the ISW reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: uk.gov, ISW, The Kyiv Independent