Main Navy HQ offered Ukraine to deploy marines on Russian warships

24.12.2010 This offer to Ukrainian Navy was made by representatives of Russian Navy Main HQ in Sevastopol during Russian-Ukrainian talks on joint anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

The negotiations were held in Dec 21-22 at Nakhimov Naval Academy in Sevastopol, Ukraine.

Delegation of Russian defense ministry consisting of Navy Main HQ officials and Black Sea Fleet officers met with their Ukrainian counterparts headed by Capt 1 rank Dmitry Taran, Director of Naval Operations, Ukrainian Navy.

The key point of the talks held under "International cooperation activities program of Ukrainian Armed Forces" was possible participation of Ukrainian marines/commandos in Russian anti-piracy mission conducted near the Horn of Africa.

Russian mariners informed representatives of Ukrainian Navy command about the course of anti-piracy operation, forms and methods of shipping security provided by Russian Navy.

According to the head of Ukrainian delegation Capt 1 rank Dmitry Taran, the parties exchanged their views on possible format of Ukraine's participation in anti-piracy campaign jointly with Russian Navy, discussed arms use conditions and legal aspects of attending the international antipiracy mission by Russian and Ukrainian servicemen.

In their turn, Ukrainian partners offered Russian marines to use training facilities of Nakhimov Naval Academy (Sevastopol) for learning English.

Visiting Sevastopol on Nov 24, Ukrainian defense minister Mikhail Yezhel said that Ukraine was seeking possibilities to attend anti-piracy operation near the Horn of Africa, including those jointly with the Russian Federation.