Ukrainian Warships Train Alongside British Navy Against Backdrop Of Russia’s Invasion

Ukrainian minehunters sailed alongside Royal Navy warship HMS Dauntless on 10 October as Ukrainian crews completed a week of intensive maritime training against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Footage shows HMS Dauntless sailing in formation with the Ukrainian vessels UNS Henichesk, Mariupol, Melitopol, Chernihiv and Cherkasy during a passage exercise off the Isle of Wight.

The five Ukrainian minehunters, based in Portsmouth as part of the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine, spent seven days training in British waters. Activities included gunnery exercises, destroying practice mines and sailing in close formation with a major warship.

The training formed the final phase of Exercise Lion Protector, a wider Joint Expeditionary Force exercise aimed at strengthening the ability of participating nations to protect Europe’s northern flank, defend maritime infrastructure and secure sea lanes.

Ukrainian crews also practised locating, identifying and destroying underwater explosive devices using Seafox remotely operated submersibles, a system long used by the Royal Navy for minehunting.