Ukraine could help the U.S. reopen the Strait of Hormuz
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical due to the high risk of civilian shipping being blocked.
Captain 1st Rank (Reserve) and expert Andriy Ryzhenko, speaking on “Radio NV,” identified three key types of threats to tankers in this region: the use of coastal missile systems, the use of unmanned boats, and the widespread mining of the waterway.
According to the expert, the aggressor does not need to wage a large-scale war to completely halt traffic.
“This doesn’t require intense combat operations. You just need to destroy a few tankers. And all the others simply won’t go through the strait,” Ryzhenko emphasized.
He added that the strait’s depths of up to 200 meters and its narrow width (up to 55 nautical miles) make this area ideal for laying minefields and launching medium-range missile strikes.
Despite its colossal power, the U.S. Navy faced certain difficulties in adapting to such conditions.
Ryzhenko explained that the U.S. “Blue Water Capability” strategy was effective only during the first 48 hours of the operation, as it is designed for global strikes in the open ocean, not for countering hybrid threats in narrow straits.
“The U.S. Navy in the region is structured around the Blue Water Capability concept. These are serious strikes that weaken combat capabilities. And it worked in the first 48 hours of the operation. But what happened next—the U.S. Navy task forces in the region were not fully prepared,” the captain noted.
In this situation, the experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could prove decisive for the international coalition.
Ukrainian military personnel possess unique skills in conducting combat operations under constant enemy pressure, particularly in the areas of maritime air defense and the interception of attack drones.
Ryzhenko is confident that Ukraine is capable of providing substantial assistance in planning operations to clear sea lanes.
“Our military has the most practical experience in conditions of very active enemy resistance. I think this experience will indeed be useful, especially in matters of maritime air defense and intercepting ‘Shahed’-type drones, thanks to interceptors that can be based on unmanned systems,” he added.
Ukraine’s experience in using surface drones can also be applied to the safe demining of the strait.
As a reminder, the IRGC announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and is threatening a “harsh response” to ships.
The Strait of Hormuz could also become the “Trump Strait.”
