Ukraine has offered to send four minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate secure one of the world’s most vital oil and gas shipping routes, according to a Ukrainian military source.
The vessels, currently stationed in Portsmouth, UK, include two former British ships — HMS Shoreham and HMS Grimsby — acquired by Ukraine in 2023 and now named Chernihiv and Chernigov in its navy. Due to the Montreux Convention, which restricts the passage of warships through the Bosphorus during wartime, the ships cannot sail directly to the Black Sea.
Ukrainian naval officers attended a multinational military planning summit at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, UK, where they confirmed Kyiv’s readiness to deploy any of the four minesweepers to the Hormuz region if needed.
The offer comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, following Iranian mining activity in the Strait of Hormuz after U.S.-Israeli military actions in late February. U.S. Central Command reported that two American destroyers had transited the strait and operated in the Persian Gulf to prepare conditions for mine clearance.
Ukraine also suggested it could contribute naval drones or anti-drone systems to assist allied efforts in protecting commercial shipping from Iranian drone and missile threats.
Kyiv’s motivation includes concerns that former U.S. President Donald Trump might pursue a deal with Russia that could undermine Ukrainian security, particularly given Russia’s support for Iranian operations targeting U.S. Forces in the region.
Analysts note that forming a coordinated mine-clearing operation involving French, British, and U.S. Forces could take weeks, as some vessels require significant time to reach the area. The exact mechanics of multinational cooperation remain unclear.
