“The ‘Island’-class coast watch patrol boats shall soundly reinforce Ukraine’s maritime forces,” – Iryna Herashchenko
During the working visit to the United States, the Presidential envoy for a peaceful settlement of the Donetsk-Luhansk clash Iryna Herashchenko, as part of an official delegation headed by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, partook on September 27 in the ceremony of transferring two ‘Island’-class coast guard patrol boats to Ukraine’s navy.
The President thanked the US representatives and emphasized that the United States Government, the President of the United States, once again proved their firm position regarding the protection of international law, the support of freedom-loving people in their quest for peace, democracy and independence. "The first two boats shall become another brick in the wall of strengthening the naval alliance between the Ukrainian and American peoples," said the President, pointing out that this cooperation would be complemented with the US assistance in building the Ukrainian Naval Forces command center in the city of Ochakiv.
“The today’s move shows clearly that the strategic partnership between the US and Ukraine does look brisky and alive. This aid is of special importance when Russia blasts the freedom of seas and navigation in the Sea of Azov, cowardly cowing and chasing down after commercial ships. Our goal is to soundly convince the Kremlin that we are very determined to defend Ukraine’s coasts,” underlined P.Poroshenko.
Coast Guard Vice Admiral Michael McAllister, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko attended the transfer ceremony.
The ‘Island’-class patrol boats are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment and are used in support of the Coast Guard's maritime homeland security, migrant and drug interdiction, defense operations, fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue missions. They will be at service for Ukraine’s navy in the Sea of Azov for some 25-30 years.
When visiting the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the First Deputy Speaker Iryna Herashchenko, as part of an official delegation headed by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, along with his wife, Maryna Poroshenko, visited Senator John McCain's burial site and honored his memory laying a wreath at his grave.