Ukraine received mine hunters from Belgium and the Netherlands (photo)

These ships were handed over earlier, but they did not disclose it.

Ukraine received minesweepers from Belgium and the Netherlands, in particular BNS Narcis and Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen.

As reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands , their Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen was named “Melitopol”. The transfer of the ships took place at the Belgian naval base of Zeebrugge, but this was not reported for security reasons. At the end of the year, Ukraine will receive Zr.Ms. Makkum, which will be named after the city of Genichesk.

Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said during the ceremony that he hopes for a future in which the Black Sea will be open and free, and Ukrainian cities will no longer be occupied:

“The Minesweepers are entering the next chapter, under a new flag, with a new mission. The major ports of Odessa and the Black Sea shipping lanes are vital to the Ukrainian economy. And they are under constant threat. Ukraine may not win the war at sea, but it can certainly lose the war on land. We simply cannot allow this to happen.”

The ministry noted that Ukrainian crews have been diligently training to operate these ships. They were assisted by Belgian and Dutch instructors, technicians, and repair crews.

(C)UNIAN 2025