Belgium and the Netherlands recently handed over two minesweepers to Ukraine — the Belgian BNS Narcis and the Dutch Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen. About this reported press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
The handover ceremony took place earlier at the naval base in the Belgian city of Zeebrugge, but it was announced only now for reasons of operational security. Now the ship Zr. Mrs. Vlaardingen will be named in honor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, and at the end of 2025, one more ship should arrive in Ukraine – Zr. Mrs. Makkum, which will be given the name Henichesk. Both of these cities are currently temporarily occupied by Russian troops.
The handover of the ships was the result of close cooperation between Ukraine, Belgium and the Netherlands. Before the official transfer, the new Ukrainian crews have already undergone intensive training with the participation of instructors, technical specialists and service personnel from Belgium and the Netherlands.
“The large ports of Odessa and sea lanes in the Black Sea are the lifeblood of the Ukrainian economy. And this artery is constantly under threat. Ukraine may not win the war at sea, but it may very well lose it there. And we simply cannot allow that to happen. That is why it is so important for maritime security and freedom of navigation that Ukraine can use these minesweepers.” — commented the head of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, Rubens Brekelmans.
