A second Ukrainian corvette is launched in Türkiye

The second Ada-class corvette for Ukraine, the Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi, was launched in Türkiye. The ship was built at Kyiv’s request, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

The official ceremony took place in Istanbul at the İstanbul Shipyard Naval facility. The event was attended by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, Ukrainian MP and Hero of Ukraine Mustafa Dzhemilev, and the management of the company that implemented the project.

“Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska became the godmother of the corvette, as with the first Ada-class ship Hetman Ivan Mazepa. She christened the ship by smashing a bottle of champagne against the hull. According to maritime tradition, this moment officially named the corvette Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi,” the Internal Affairs Ministry reported.

The corvette is equipped with short-range air defense systems, a modern combat control system, navigation, a radar station, a sonar for detecting and locating submarines, and an electronic warfare system.

Türkiye began building this second multi-role military ship for the Ukrainian Navy in August of last year. The first ship of this class for the Ukrainian Navy, Hetman Ivan Mazepa, was launched in October 2022.

“The corvettes Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi and Hetman Ivan Mazepa, built in Türkiye to counter Russian aggression in the Black Sea, are equipped with the most advanced weaponry.  These new vessels will significantly enhance our fleet and help to improve Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Ukraine has already broken the dominance of the Russian maritime fleet by destroying dozens of ships in and around the Black Sea. We are actively expanding the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy in the Black and Azov Seas,” said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.