The Naval Forces of Ukraine have received the right to command NATO forces for the first time in the Alliance's history, the Ukrainian Navy reported on Thursday, writes UNN.
For the first time in NATO's history, the Ukrainian Navy has received the right to command Alliance forces
As noted, during the Ukrainian-American exercise "Sea Breeze 2026," the mine countermeasures staff of the 1st Division of Mine Countermeasure Vessels of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "successfully passed the second-level evaluation according to NATO standards (NATO Evaluation Level, NEL-2)."
"Following the results of extensive inspections, the unit received the rating – 'Fully Capable of Mission Execution' (Mission Capable)," the statement reads.
According to the guiding document "NATO Operational Capabilities Concept Evaluation and Feedback Program," the NEL-2 evaluation, as reported, focuses not only on interoperability, as in the first level, but also on the full operational capability of the unit.
"Successful completion of this level confirms that the unit is capable of performing combat tasks according to the standards of the Allied Command Operations Forces," the Navy emphasized.
"For the first time in the history of the modern Ukrainian navy, a unit has been officially integrated into the NATO command and control system for eliminating mine hazards at sea. That is, from now on, Ukraine has a confirmed Alliance capability to command and control subordinate multinational forces, interact up to and including the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group, and perform the full spectrum of mine countermeasure missions at sea," the Ukrainian Navy stressed.
Mission Capable, as noted, is a complex, multi-level process that requires colossal work. "Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation, under the conditions of an active phase of war, Ukrainian military sailors have undergone training, implemented Alliance doctrines, and acquired necessary capabilities over three years. This result is another indisputable proof that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, namely the Naval Forces, are not only deterring the enemy but also continuing their relentless integration into the Euro-Atlantic security architecture at the level of the world's best navies," the statement said.