Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the 30th of March that the Ukrainians’ success in breaking the Russian blockade of the Black Sea has provided experience that can help in opening the Strait of Hormuz, reports Politico.
In response to a question from Politico, Zelensky told reporters that this problem was raised because it is painful and urgent, and for the whole world. There is an energy crisis, and Ukrainian experience in protecting shipping lanes can be relied on, and this has already been discussed in detail. Zelensky added that Ukraine has shared its experience in creating the Black Sea corridor, and the parties involved understand that Kyiv’s armed forces have worked effectively in the Black Sea.
During a recent visit to the Middle East, where Ukraine also signed several long-term defense contracts, Zelensky made it clear that Kyiv is not just looking to sell its weapons. Instead, the Ukrainians are offering their expertise, which could be very useful in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes.
US President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran open the strait to shipping and insisted that allies help. At the same time, Trump regularly seeks to humiliate traditional US allies and mock their armed forces. More than 20 countries have agreed to help the Americans unblock the strait, but
none of them want to do so while there is direct hostilities.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has indicated that there is no other way. Kyiv boasts of breaking Russia’s Black Sea blockade in 2023, which has caused an international food crisis. At that time, the Ukrainians managed to sink most of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, and the remaining Russian ships left the sea. Andrii Klymenko, head of the monitoring group, said that despite Russian attacks on three Ukrainian ports in the Odessa region, about 200 cargo ships arrive there every month. He said that Ukraine has managed to create a complex system to protect cargo ships from various threats on the way from Romanian territorial waters to the Odessa region, which he called a tunnel.
Ukraine has not detailed its strategy, but the system includes air defense, defense against naval mines and joint work of coastal artillery, air force and other units. Naval drones, which are used against the Russian fleet, are also significant. Ihor Fedirko, head of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council, said that Ukraine’s naval drones are now not just kamikaze boats, but also platforms that can carry automatic weapons, missile launchers, and FPV drones.
In addition to using military techniques, Ukraine has also been closely involved in insurance markets
to ensure that berthing in its ports does not become so expensive that it deters ships from entering. In November 2023, the Ukrainian government introduced a program that provides for sharing the cost of insurance for non-military cargo ships with major shipping insurers, including Lloyd’s and Marsh McLennan. The program was extended in March this year.
Such a combination could also work in the Persian Gulf, and Fedirko said that Ukraine has a ready-made ecosystem – a completely systemic solution for protecting the seas and skies.
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