Ukraine is ramping up its naval capabilities in the Black Sea, recently launching a new Ada-class multipurpose corvette named Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi. This addition comes more than two years into the ongoing conflict with Russia, as announced by officials on Friday.
Launched in Istanbul, Turkey, this vessel marks the second Ada-class corvette for the Ukrainian Navy, built in Turkey due to the ongoing war initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022.
Minister @rustem_umerov and the First Lady of Ukraine @ZelenskaUA took part in the launching of the Ukrainian corvette “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi”.
It’s the second Ada type corvette, manufactured in 🇹🇷. “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi” and “Hetman Ivan Mazepa” are equipped with cutting-edge… pic.twitter.com/Ffe7cJqa42
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 2, 2024
The Ada-class corvette, with a crew capacity of 86, is designed to tackle air, surface, and underwater threats while also providing naval gunfire support, according to Turkey’s STM defense company.
“This vessel will enhance Ukraine’s capacity to safeguard its interests not just in the Black and Azov Seas, but also in the Mediterranean and Atlantic,” the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office stated in a release.
The corvette’s launch event took place at the RMK Marine shipyard in Istanbul and was attended by notable figures including Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Navy Commander Oleksiy Neizhpapa.
Umerov expressed gratitude to Turkey for its support, noting that Ukraine has managed to disrupt Russian naval dominance, successfully targeting several vessels. He emphasized that the new corvettes will be a major boost for the Ukrainian Navy.
Meanwhile, Russia is also upgrading its naval forces. Nikolai Patrushev, a key adviser to Putin, indicated that a new phase of naval development is underway to outpace other maritime nations.
Patrushev stated, “Russia, as a significant maritime power, aims to maintain a formidable navy capable of operating in both close and distant waters.” He also announced plans for the Russian Navy to receive around 50 new ships and support vessels this year, a significant increase from the previous year.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Overall, Ukraine is making significant strides in enhancing its naval capabilities amid the ongoing conflict, while Russia is working to bolster its fleet in response.