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For the first time in the history of Ukraine’s modern navy, a unit of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been officially integrated into NATO’s command system for naval mine countermeasures.
As UATV English reports, this was announced by the press service of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.
“For the first time in the history of Ukraine’s modern navy, a unit has been officially integrated into NATO’s command system for naval mine countermeasures. In other words, Ukraine now has an Alliance-confirmed ability to exercise command and control over subordinate multinational forces, to interoperate up to and including NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group, and to carry out the full range of naval mine countermeasure missions,” the post states.
The press service also reported that during the Ukrainian-American exercise “Sea Breeze 2026,” the mine countermeasures staff of the 1st Mine Countermeasures Ship Division of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully passed a second-level NATO Evaluation (NATO Evaluation Level, NEL-2). Following lengthy inspections, the unit received the rating “Mission Capable.” According to the governing document “NATO Operational Capabilities Concept Evaluation and Feedback Program,” NEL-2 evaluation focuses not only on interoperability, as at the first level, but on the unit’s full operational capability. Successfully passing this level confirms that the unit is capable of carrying out combat tasks according to the standards of NATO’s Allied Command Operations Forces.
As noted by the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, achieving “Mission Capable” status is a complex, multi-level process requiring enormous effort. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, amid the active phase of the war, Ukrainian naval personnel have spent three years training, adopting the Alliance’s doctrines, and building the necessary capabilities. This result is yet more undeniable proof that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, specifically the Naval Forces, are not just holding back the enemy but continuing their steady integration into the Euro-Atlantic security architecture at the level of the world’s best navies.
“The experience gained is invaluable, since there’s still a great deal of work ahead to clear the Black and Azov Seas,” the command noted.
As previously reported, the maritime phase of the international exercise Sea Breeze 2026, currently underway in the United Kingdom, is aimed at preparing Ukrainian and foreign military personnel to conduct mine countermeasure operations in the Black and Azov Seas.
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