Ukraine's Navy Gets Black Sea Warship Boost

Ukraine is expanding its Navy in the Black Sea with a new Ada-class multipurpose corvette, more than two years into the war with Russia, officials announced on Friday.

The warship, launched in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, will be the Ukrainian Navy's second Turkish-built Ada-class corvette. The Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi is being built in Turkey due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which was launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022.

The Ada-class corvette, which can fit up to 86 crew, is capable of destroying air, surface and underwater targets and providing naval gunfire support, according to Turkish defense company STM.

"With a vessel of this class, Ukraine will be able to protect its national interests not only in the Black and Azov Seas but also in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean," the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a news release.

A launching ceremony for the vessel held at the RMK Marine shipyard in Istanbul, Turkey, was attended by Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neizhpapa.

"I am grateful to our Turkish partners for their support during a difficult time for our country," Umerov said. "Ukraine has already broken the dominance of the Russian fleet at sea, destroying dozens of ships. We are actively expanding the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy in the Black and Azov Seas."

Umerov said the corvettes are "equipped with cutting-edge weapons and will become a significant addition to our fleet."

Russia is also working to revamp its Navy, according to Nikolai Patrushev, a key adviser to Putin.

"A new stage of the development of the [Russian] Navy is actually beginning," presidential aide Patrushev, who oversees national maritime policy issues, said in an interview with state Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta last week.

"The state needs to ensure such a quality of our fleet that will allow it to outpace the technical capabilities of other maritime countries," Patrushev said.

"As a great maritime power, Russia should possess a powerful navy comprising ships designed to accomplish missions in close-in and distant maritime and oceanic areas and have a developed system of bases and logistics support," the presidential aide added.

Viktor Yevtukhov, the deputy minister of industry and trade, said in June that the Russian Navy would receive some 50 ships and support vessels this year—up from the 32 it received last year—as part of a hastened effort to replenish losses sustained in the war.

"About 50 are planned for this year. That is, we are increasing the pace. These are not only boats, frigates, corvettes, small missile ships; there are also support vessels," Yevtukhov said.

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