The international community has bolstered security for Ukraine's major ports and maritime routes in the Black Sea. The Netherlands and Belgium have supplied two new minesweepers to Ukraine, aimed at ensuring the safety of Odessa's ports, which are vital for the country's economy.

This was reported by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The Belgian minesweeper BNS Narcis and the Dutch Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen were officially handed over to Ukraine during a ceremony in Zeebrugge. This significant event was disclosed only now for operational security reasons.

"The ports of Odessa and the maritime routes in the Black Sea are a lifeline for the Ukrainian economy, constantly under threat. While the sea battle may be lost, we cannot allow that to happen," stated Dutch Minister of Defence Rubens Brakelmans.

Symbolic Names for New Ships

The Zr. Ms. Vlaardingen will now bear the name of the Ukrainian city Melitopol. Next year, the ship Zr. Ms. Makkum will be named after the Ukrainian city of Genichesk. Both cities are currently occupied, adding special significance to this event.

The transfer of the ships is the result of close cooperation among Ukraine, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Before the official handover of the first two ships, new Ukrainian crews underwent intensive training with experienced instructors from Belgium and the Netherlands.

Minesweepers are critical for the protection of Odessa's ports and the Black Sea coastline. The Odessa port remains one of Ukraine's most important maritime gateways, facilitating significant volumes of cargo, including grain and other agricultural exports. Russian naval mines pose a constant threat to commercial vessels attempting to reach Odessa's ports.