Belgium and the Netherlands have handed over two minehunters to Ukraine, which will be named after the occupied cities of Melitopol and Henichesk.
This was announced by the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
The Belgian ship BNS Narcis and the Dutch Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen were transferred during a ceremony at the Belgian naval base in Zeebrugge. The handover occurred some time ago but was only reported now for "operational security reasons," the ministry clarified.
"Minehunters are entering a new chapter, under a new flag, with a new mission," said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
The minehunter Zr.Ms. Vlaardingen will be renamed after the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol. By the end of the year, the Netherlands will also transfer another ship — Zr.Ms. Makkum, to be named after Henichesk, which is also under occupation. In December 2024, the Ukrainian Navy crew completed training on this ship.
During the handover ceremony, Brekelmans spoke about the donation and its ultimate goal:
"A future where the Black Sea is open and free, and Ukrainian cities are no longer occupied," he said.
The Dutch Defense Minister emphasized that Ukraine’s ports and shipping routes in the Black Sea are vital lifelines for the country’s economy and remain under constant threat.
"That is why it is so important for Ukraine to be able to use minehunters to ensure safety at sea and free passage," Brekelmans concluded.
