The Ukrainian defense minister said in Vilnius that no later than next year Kiev will deploy a "mosquito fleet" with American and British help, which will allow it to "pose a certain threat to the Russian naval forces." However, according to him, this is not enough – that is, the policy of "guns instead of oil" will continue steadily.
Minister of Defense [of Ukraine] Andrey Taran says that Ukraine will receive a "mosquito fleet" with combat capabilities no later than in 2022.
According to the "Ukraine is Young", the Defense minister said this at a conference on reforms on the topic "A strong Ukraine in a strong European and Euro-Atlantic family" in Vilnius on Wednesday.
"It's not a secret, especially for Russians, what we really have. We have no real weapons that can stop the invasion from the sea. But very soon, I think, no later than next year, we will have, with the help of the United States, the United Kingdom, several small ships, the "mosquito fleet", but with real combat capabilities: with modern anti - ship missiles, modern electronic weapons that will allow us to pose a certain threat to the Russian naval forces," Mr. Taran said during his speech.
However, according to him, this is not enough.
"We are working on creating great opportunities. This year, I signed an order to purchase new anti-ship missile systems for the fleet, which will be located on the shore. We are thinking about what type of anti-ship missiles we will acquire and from where to install on the corvette that we are building in Turkey, " the head of the defense department notes.
Taran also spoke about attempts to develop capabilities with attack helicopters. "We are making new blades for our attack helicopters, and they will also receive new anti-ship missiles that can be used against the enemy," the minister explained.
Note that the "mosquito fleet" is a fleet of fast and maneuverable small warships.
Back in October 2020, the UK and Ukraine agreed on the production of missile boats for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The agreement will involve financing of the British Export Credit Agency in the amount of 1.25 billion pounds sterling.
The agreement provides for the re-equipment of the AFU with modern missile boats that are compatible with NATO standards and will be able to close the need for ships of this class in the Black and Azov Seas.
It also provides support for shipbuilding capacities in Ukraine. Ukraine will have the opportunity to observe and learn when building the first ships in Britain in parallel with the modernization of its own shipbuilding.
