Kiev: President Selensky names type ship of the new Ukrainian corvettes

Ukraine had already signed a construction contract for four ADA-class corvettes (MILGEM project) with Turkey in mid-December 2020 - with the option of a fifth if things go well. Initial stipulations envisaged the complete construction of the type ship in Turkish hands. Subsequent negotiations with the aim of increasing the transfer of technology from Turkey to the Ukraine then resulted in a construction ratio of half, i.e. hull in Turkish production and further expansion at the Ukrainian PJSC Nikolaev Okean shipyard (just south of Mykolajiv) together with Turkish engineers. The provisional schedule envisaged the start of construction of the hulls around the end of 2021 for the first sea trials in 2023.

Plans are one thing - war is another

But now everything has turned out quite differently! Four units of the 100 metre long, 1,500 tonne displacement ADA-class sub-hunting corvettes are already in service in the Turkish Navy, and four more units are under construction at Istanbul Naval Shipyards for the Pakistani Navy. However, the first two Ukrainian hulls have now been on hold for six months in sections at the neighbouring yacht restoration and shipbuilding yard RMK. The renowned RMK (rmkyachts.com) had already built Dost-class vessels of roughly the same size for the Turkish coastguard.

New impetus for the corvette

Five days before the bank holidays of the Ukraine President Volodomyr Selenskyj has now announced the name of the first corvette: Hetman Ivan Mazepa. From 1687, Ivan Stepanovich Mazepa was one of the last captains and commanders of the Ukrainian Zaporozhian Cossacks, who play a special role in national historiography as the original free Ukrainian Cossacks who opposed Russian claims to power. They had their stronghold in the Dnieper river basin near Zaporizhia, the "land behind the rapids".

Selensky's words - history and symbols

"In order to restore the historical traditions of the national army and immortalise the memory of the outstanding Ukrainian statesman and captain of the Zaporozhian army Ivan Mazepa, I decide to name the ADA corvette class of the Naval Forces of Ukraine "Hetman Ivan Mazepa" and therefore give this first corvette the name "Hetman Ivan Mazepa"," explained Selensky. Even if this corvette is not yet afloat and we can only speculate about equipment plans, it is already serving the country well in terms of motivating the nation in a state of war. The history of Ukraine appears in a new light.