As part of the implementation of the Ukrainian-French agreement on strengthening maritime security and border protection of Ukraine, the first hulls of boats for Ukrainian border guards were laid. The Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov reported about it.
“Implementation of the Ukrainian-French framework agreement on strengthening the maritime security and border protection system of Ukraine is moving into practice. Construction of boats for the State Border Guard Service has begun. The cases are already 30-50% ready. In 3 years, Ukrainian border guards will receive 20 vessels for border protection, surveillance and counteraction operations: 5 of them will be manufactured in Ukraine, ”Arsen Avakov said.
It is reported that now the parties are actually moving to the practical work on the construction of boats, which are extremely necessary for the Maritime Guard to ensure the interests of the state and society at sea in the Azov-Black Sea basin. It is expected that in early spring 2021, a group of Ukrainian experts will travel to the French city of Les Sables-d’Olonne to provide constant feedback and continuity of the boat construction process.
The Ukrainian and French sides are discussing the possibility of equipping future border boats with certain equipment and other means necessary for the protection of maritime borders. In addition, training of technical staff and boat crews, technical support and after-sales service, etc. are currently being discussed.
It will be recalled that on July 22, 2020, a contract was signed for the implementation of the Ukrainian-French project to strengthen the maritime security and border protection system of Ukraine.
It should be noted that in July Shmygal announced the purchase of 20 French patrol boats for Ukrainian border guards.