Editor's note: The article was updated with additional comments by the Turkish shipbuilding company STM.
A new Ada-class multi-purpose corvette built in Turkey for Ukraine was launched in Istanbul on Aug. 1, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
The ship, named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi, is the second vessel of its class constructed for Kyiv in Turkey after the corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa was launched in October 2022.
Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi will make its maiden voyage in 2026 and be officially handed over to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2027, the Turkish shipbuilding company STM said.
The vessels have been built abroad due to Russia's ongoing full-scale war and the threat of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
"I am grateful to our Turkish partners for their support during a difficult time for our country," Umerov said after attending the launching ceremony at RMK Marine shipyard together with First Lady Olena Zelenska, Navy Commander Olelksii Neizhpapa, Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, and Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of the Turkish arms company Baykar.
"Ukraine has already broken the dominance of the Russian fleet at sea, destroying dozens of ships. We are actively expanding the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy in the Black and Azov Seas," Umerov added.
According to the minister, both corvettes "are equipped with cutting-edge weapons and will become a significant addition to our fleet."
Hetman Ivan Mazepa, currently undergoing sea trials, is to become the Ukrainian Navy's new flagship after its predecessor, the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny, was scuttled in March 2022 to prevent capture by Russian forces.
The Ada-class vessel is armed with a 76 mm naval gun, 12.7 mm remotely controlled STAMP guns, fire control radars, satellite systems, and electronic warfare systems.
Despite its meager naval force, Ukraine managed to inflict heavy damage on the Russian Black Sea Fleet with kamikaze drones and missile strikes, successfully reopening a Black Sea trade corridor.
Russia is believed to have lost around a third of its Black Sea Fleet vessels due to Ukrainian attacks, representing one of Kyiv's chief successes in the war.
Igor Kossov
(Updated: )
