Norway said on Monday that it would provide $242 million to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy and help it deter Russian naval forces in the Black Sea. Much of the funding will go towards innovation and autonomy under the Maritime Capability Coalition, which Norway and Britain launched last year to make Ukraine’s navy more compatible with Western allies, the Norwegian government said.
“It is essential to protect the Ukrainian population and Ukrainian infrastructure from attacks by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet,” Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement.
“It is also important to protect exports by sea of grain and other products, which generate crucial revenues for Ukraine,” the Prime Minister of Norway added.
The support includes donations from the Norwegian Armed Forces as well as military equipment to be procured from industry for subsequent donation.
The funding will also be used for mine clearance operations and the training of Ukrainian soldiers, the Norwegian government stated.
“The systems we are providing will enhance the ability of Ukrainian forces to detect and defuse mines along their coastline,” Defence Minister of Norway Bjoern Arild Gram said in the statement.
Officials in Norway had said in August that they have agreed to let Ukraine manufacture Norwegian-developed artillery ammunition. NATO members are racing to increase production of weapons, ammunition and missiles, partly to supply Ukraine but also to replenish stocks and be able to counter new threats. One approach to boosting deliveries to Ukraine has been to allow for the production of ammunition on Ukrainian territory.
Norway-based defence materials firm Nammo has signed a deal that allows a Ukrainian defence group to establish licensed production in Ukraine of Norwegian-developed 155mm artillery shells. “The government has opened up to Norwegian defence technology being transferred to Ukraine, and Norway is contributing funding to make this happen,” the Defence Ministry of Norway said in a statement.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
