Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and head of the Royal Navy Sir Gwyn Jenkins met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at HMNB Portsmouth to underscore Britain’s continued support for Ukraine.
Meeting on board aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth at the south coast naval base was appropriate because Ukrainian forces have been receiving mine countermeasures (MCM) training locally, including during the recently concluded Exercise Sea Breeze.
Part of the wider Operation Interflex support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the training conducted out of Portsmouth has seen more than 200 sailors taught to operate five minehunters over the past three years: Melitopol, Mariupol, Henichesk, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv. They will remain based in the U.K. until the end of the war, after which they will be able to carry out mine clearance operations in domestic waters.
On the visit to the base, the VIPs spoke to Ukrainian and British military personnel who have taken part in Sea Breeze, an 18-country training exercise staged in both the U.K. and in the Black Sea.
The second part of this year’s exercise, which took place in Portland, Dorset, finished on Friday and involved more than 200 Ukrainian personnel. The first iteration had been hosted by Romania in the Babadag Training Area and the Danube Delta region in mid-June.
As per the RN, during the second phase of the exercise ships cleared a route stretching more than 85 miles from the English coast to the Isle of Wight, locating 17 practice mines along the way, with dive teams and remote controlled vehicles employed and live charges used to destroy some of the devices found.
Sea Breeze’s participants were also tested in wider aspects of war at sea: damage control and firefighting, gunnery, force protection and commanding a task group.
President Zelenskyy said: “It is very important that our units have demonstrated a high level of preparedness in maritime demining. Our country is drawing ever closer to the NATO countries, and there is no doubt that our Navy – and the Armed Forces as a whole – are contributing to our shared security in Europe through their knowledge and skills.”
The First Sea Lord remarked: “I am delighted that President Zelenskyy had an opportunity to see first-hand the Royal Navy’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
“Through the Maritime Capability Coalition, which we lead with Norway, the UK is playing a vital role rallying support for the Ukrainian Navy, from mine countermeasure capabilities to training Ukrainian Marines through our regional training hub.
“Ukraine’s unwavering courage and determination is an inspiration to the Royal Navy. We stand with them as they defend their people, their waters and the rules-based order we all depend on.”
As per media reports, the PM and the Ukrainian president were also expected to discuss joint projects including Stone Cloak, an electronic jammer. Britain has shared the intellectual property for the system, giving Ukraine immediate access to it.
President Zelenskyy commented: “We discussed our defence. For Ukraine, it is important to have sufficient capabilities both in the sky and at sea to protect lives. We also talked about developing joint defence production. I am grateful to Britain for today’s decision to provide Ukraine with electronic warfare technologies to protect Ukrainian drones. It will definitely be useful on the battlefield.”
The British PM said: “Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering. Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve a long-lasting and just peace for Ukraine.
“Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries.”
- You can read more details about Exercise Sea Breeze on NATO’s MARCOM website and more about the visit on the Royal Navy website
