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The situation at sea is now difficult for Ukraine, because the state controls only 20% of its coast. First of all, it is necessary to ensure that Russia does not block Ukrainian ports. To protect the territorial waters of the maritime economic zone, Ukraine needs small ships for various purposes. Andriy Ryzhenko, an expert of the Center for Defense Strategies, captain of the 1st rank of the reserve of the Ukrainian Navy, said this on the air of the FREEDOM TV channel.
“The situation at sea is difficult for Ukraine because it controls 20% of its coast. This is the section from the mouth of the Danube Delta to the Dnieper Delta. And, despite the fact that we control the coast, our ports in this area are still completely or partially blocked. There is shipping within the grain initiative, but we know that clouds are gathering around it too. We need to make sure that Russia does not block Ukrainian ports. And in the future, when we liberate our Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov, it will be necessary to ensure the protection and maintenance of the sovereignty of the territorial waters of the maritime economic zone. That is, this is the near sea zone of 40-100 nautical miles. To do this, we need small ships for various purposes,” Ryzhenko said.
Now, according to him, the biggest threat to Ukrainian ships is Russian missile ships that fire Caliber and other missiles, artillery, torpedoes. They can even completely block shipping, as was the case in February-March last year.
“Large ships like corvettes are a medium-term perspective. So it could be five or nine years. They need to build bases. And they operate in the central part of the Black Sea and beyond. And now we need to cover the near area. For this we need boats. They can perform all these tasks. They carry missiles, torpedoes, they fight mines, saboteurs, they can land troops and so on,” Ryzhenko explained.
The expert recalled that the issue of maritime security was discussed at the ministerial level a little less than a month ago in Bucharest, when the international conference “Black Sea Security” was held.
“Our minister was also there (Head of the Ministry of Defense Alexei Reznikov – ed.), there were high-ranking officials, ministers of defense and foreign affairs of about 42 countries. And then, on the sidelines of both expert and political experts, the question was raised that Ukraine needed to build up its surface fleet, ”added Ryzhenko.
Germany can significantly help Ukraine in ensuring security at sea, the expert says.
“Germany is a traditionally strong country in the naval aspect, both in terms of building and using the fleet. And this is, let’s say, its historical strength. Germany has something to help us in the very short term in order to ensure the safety of our waters and ports,” Ryzhenko said.
Ukraine already has developments, negotiations regarding this situation are underway. Experts are working on this issue, the guest added.
“I hope that Ukraine will receive an increase in its capabilities, forces for operations at sea, so that the enemy does not behave so freely at sea and does not block our ports, does not destroy ships. And he was responsible for it. Now experts are working on this issue. And the fact that the Minister of Defense raised this issue, I think, is very positive,” Ryzhenko said.
He recalled that in May last year, Ukraine managed to get Harpoon missile systems. And then the situation in the Black Sea changed dramatically.
“Then the Russians left this northwestern part of the Black Sea, moved beyond the Crimea. Now let’s see what happens with this issue. Germany has something to help us. We have a vision for how to do it. Let’s see how it will be implemented. I think that in the near future we will be able to achieve results,” Ryzhenko summed up.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov previously stated that three countries had actually joined the “ship coalition”: the Netherlands, Great Britain and Belgium, which had transferred their minesweepers. At a meeting with Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, General Carsten Breuer, during his visit to Ukraine, Reznikov called on Germany to join the creation of a “sea coalition.”
