Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the Netherlands will fully train a Ukrainian crew for the mine countermeasure vessel Zr. Ms. Makkum, which is expected to be delivered to Ukraine in June.
This statement followed a meeting between Zelensky and members of the Ukrainian Navy in the Netherlands, where he was accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
Zelensky noted that the vessel will be named “Henichesk,” in honor of a Ukrainian ship lost during a combat mission near the Kinburn Spit in June 2022.
He emphasized, “The Netherlands will fully prepare the crew and deliver the ship to Ukraine in June… This will be the fifth vessel in our future mine countermeasure fleet and the second one from the Netherlands,” he stated.
Additionally, the Office of the President reported that Zelensky awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class, to Dutch Chief of Defence Onno Eichelsheim and presented medals for military service to seven Ukrainian defenders.
President Zelensky confirmed that the Netherlands will train a Ukrainian crew for the Zr. Ms. Makkum mine countermeasure vessel, set for delivery in June. The ship will honor a lost Ukrainian vessel from 2022 and marks a significant addition to Ukraine's naval capabilities.