Ukraine adds another Turkish corvette to its navy for the war with Russia
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, people react during the launching ceremony of the Ukrainian Navy’s Ada class corvette “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi” in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. This vessel was constructed for the Ukrainian Navy at a shipyard in Turkey. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, center, participates in the launching ceremony of the Ada class corvette “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi” in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. This vessel was constructed for the Ukrainian Navy at a shipyard in Turkey. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
Ukraine has taken delivery of a second Turkish-built navy corvette, officials said Friday, although they did not say specifically how the warships might be used in the war against Russia.
Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, attended the launching ceremony of the Ada-class corvette during a visit to Turkey, the Ukrainian presidency announced on its website.
The corvette Ukraine already had is currently undergoing sea trials.
Turkish Ada-class ships are typically able to strike planes, other ships and submarines.
Ukraine, which has coastlines on the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov, had a small navy at the time of Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion.
But it has developed deadly pilotless sea drones that have severely limited Moscow’s Black Sea naval capability.
The Ukrainian presidency said the corvettes would help protect the country’s interests in the Black and Azov seas “but also, in particular, in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.”
