The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence plans to purchase up to 20 new armoured patrol boats for the Ukraine Coast Guard during the next three years, according to an official spokesman.

The new vessels, designated ‘Gurza-M’, will be built in the Lenin Kuznitsa shipyard hear Kiev and are designed for the protection of seaports, rivers and territorial waters.

The patrol boats will have the length of 23.7m and able to reach speeds of up to 25kts, with a maximum range of 700 miles. Armament includes two remote-controlled 30mm Katran-M weapon systems and small arms.

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Currently the Ukrainian Navy has two such boats in its service, delivered in November 2015.

According to an official spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, in addition to the Gurza-M, up to seven ‘Lan’ fast missile boats may be purchase.

Government plans also include the provision of funds to complete the development of the Centaur amphibious assault boats.

The annexation of Crimea resulted in the significant reduction of the Ukrainian Coast Guard fleet, as a number of vessels were seized by Russia. This has brought about a number of procurement programmes aimed at building up naval and coast guard forces.

In November last year it was reported that the Ukrainian Navy and State Border Service could be merged into the State Border Guard Service in a bid to improve maritime security.

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