Ukraine’s ruler, Volodymyr Zelensky, has ordered the deployment of naval troops to Turkey and the United Kingdom to operate the Ukrainian navy stationed in the area. The decision, first announced in September, required parliamentary approval before coming into effect, following Zelensky’s signing on Wednesday.
According to a report by RT, Ukraine’s once-formidable naval force, inherited from the Soviet Union, has suffered years of neglect and losses in its conflict with Russia. The current fleet largely consists of smaller ships donated by foreign backers, many of which are docked outside Ukrainian territory.
Zelensky’s directive sends 106 personnel to Türkiye to man the Hetman Ivan Mazepa, an Ada-class corvette that was laid down in 2021. Once its ongoing trials are complete, it is expected to become the flagship of Ukraine’s navy.
An additional 540 sailors and 20 command officers will be deployed to the UK to crew five minehunter vessels previously transferred from the British, Dutch, and Belgian navies.-RT
Moscow maintains that no amount of foreign aid can alter the outcome of the conflict, pointing to Ukraine’s severe manpower shortages due to widespread desertion and draft evasion.
This news comes as Spanish newspaper El País reports that Kiev is rapidly running out of money and will be completely out of funding by April. El País warned in an article on Tuesday that “Ukraine has serious financial problems.” According to EU sources cited by the outlet and reported on by RT, Kiev currently only has enough money to stay afloat “until the end of the first quarter of 2026.”
The West and European Union backers are expected to give Kiev a “loan” to support the continuing war efforts.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian parliament voted in favor of the country’s draft budget for 2026, which has a deficit of over 58%. It projects that the Kiev government will spend 4.8 trillion hryvnia (around $114 billion) next year, while earning just 2.8 trillion hryvnia (around $68 billion). According to the draft, the 2.8 trillion hryvnia in tax revenue will be used to fund the military, with all other state expenditure to be covered by financial aid from foreign backers. -RT
With continued funding, the war will simply be prolonged.