The United Kingdom is sending two minehunter ships to Ukraine.
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to announce Ukraine’s procurement of Sandown-class vessels from the Royal Navy on Monday.
The U.K. is part of a new Maritime Capability Coalition established to increase Ukraine’s capability to operate at sea. The coalition, which includes Norway, also intends to send training equipment and infrastructure to strengthen security in the Black Sea.
Ukraine continues to face hardships over Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.
“These minehunters will deliver vital capability to Ukraine… help save lives at sea and open up vital export routes, which have been severely limited since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion,” Shapps said.
The coalition was created by the 50-nation Ukraine Defence Contact Group.
The effort follows the launch of a new Unity Facility in Ukraine in November. The site was born from the collaboration between Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian government to provide affordable shipping insurance for grain and other food supplies.