Ambassador on when Türkiye will hand over two corvettes to Ukraine
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Türkiye has contractual obligations to manufacture and transfer corvettes to Ukraine. Türkiye is fulfilling these obligations appropriately and will be ready to provide them as decided by the Ukrainian side, according to Ukraine's Ambassador to Türkiye Vasyl Bodnar.
"The mentioned corvettes are the property of Ukraine, and it is our side that will make decisions regarding the corvettes," he said.
According to him, the first corvette, Ivan Mazepa, is currently undergoing port and sea trials, and its readiness for commissioning is expected around the end of the current year.
Another corvette, Ivan Vyhovsky, was launched on August 1. This vessel is planned to be commissioned in 2026. Work is currently underway on outfitting, and installing the power plant, armament, and other necessary components, and a crew has been designated for the ship, he said.
"Of course, two ships, even if they are in full combat readiness, will not be able to fully change the operational situation in the region itself, but they will be needed by Ukraine to restore its fleet. This is with the participation of the coalition of countries that have already volunteered to transfer other ships to Ukraine. We will see when it will be necessary. Accordingly, the decision will be made by the state leadership," Bodnar said.
Corvettes for Ukraine
In 2020, Ukraine ordered Ada-class corvettes from Türkiye. The Hetman Ivan Mazepa, which was built in Türkiye, was launched in October 2022. At the end of that year, construction of the Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky began.
Initially, the ships were planned to be outfitted at the Okean shipyard in Ukraine. However, plans changed after the full-scale Russian invasion.
