TBILISI, Georgia — The Ukrainian navy struggled against one of the world’s largest fleets in the early months of the Russian invasion. Since February 24, Russia has dominated the waterways that surround Ukraine’s east and south coasts. In eight months, the Russian army has strategically ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk, both of whom Sea of Azov.
But it seems that Ukraine has rebuilt its navy with the help of the US. In June, the Department of Defense announced it would send 18 “coastal and river patrol boats” in the $450 million military assistance package. It included two small units of 35 feet river craft; six 40-foot maritime combat craft; and 10 Dauntless Sea Ark 34 feet patrol boats.
“This will help enable Ukrainians to defend Odessa and other positions along the Black Sea coast,” a senior defense official said at a Pentagon briefing.
The ships are small and not intended to compete directly on the open sea with warships such as the Moskva, Russia’s Black Sea flagship that Ukrainian forces destroyed with a missile strike early in the war. But the combat boats can conduct coastal and river operations.
Are tired Ukrainian Navy Captain Andrii Ryzhenko told Yahoo News that any boat can be equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers. “It means that they can mainly be used to fight with a boat of a similar size, but not with large battleships,” said Ryzhenko from Ukraine.
Reports say a number of combat boats are already patrolling the Black Sea. Photos posted to a Ukrainian defense news site appear to show US “Defiant” 40-foot boats.
Designed by Louisiana-based company Metal Shark, the “40 Defiant” was created to “address the vulnerabilities of traditional patrol boats” while delivering “significant increases in capability and firepower.”
The newest additions to the Navy will be: a pick-me-up for Ukraine’s ability to defend its ports and waterways. When Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014 it had taken over one of the main ports of Ukraine. At least 75% of the Ukrainian fleet was captured by Russia, according to Defense News. Ukraine was forced to start rebuilding its navy.
In the coming months, Kiev is expected to get another 22 boats — 40 boats in all, Ryzhenko said.
