Ukraine's Navy has become the first non-NATO force ever authorized to command NATO maritime forces during Alliance operations.

The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have for the first time in NATO history been granted the right to command the Alliance’s units in mine countermeasures operations at sea.

According to the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the Ukrainian-American exercise “Sea Breeze 2026”, the Mine Countermeasures Headquarters of the 1st Mine Countermeasures Ships Division of the Ukrainian Navy successfully passed the second-level evaluation according to NATO standards (NATO Evaluation Level 2, NEL-2). Based on the results, the unit achieved the highest rating — “Mission Capable”.

Unlike first-level evaluation (NEL-1), which merely confirms interoperability with Alliance forces, NEL-2 certifies full operational capability of the unit to execute combat missions in accordance with the Allied Command Operations Forces Standards.

Key Details of the Historic Achievement:

  • Official Integration: For the first time in the history of Ukraine’s modern naval force, a national unit has been officially integrated into NATO’s command and control system for mine action formations at sea.
  • New Operational Capabilities: Ukraine now possesses NATO-confirmed capability to exercise command and control over subordinate multinational forces, interact up to the level of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group, and conduct the full spectrum of mine warfare missions at sea.
  • Three-Year Journey: Reaching the “Mission Capable” status is the result of a rigorous three-year preparation process conducted amid the full-scale war. During this period, Ukrainian naval personnel actively mastered NATO standards and doctrines, underwent assessments, and progressively built up necessary operational capabilities.

This historic milestone serves as a testament to the high professional standards of Ukrainian sailors and marks another major step forward in integrating the Armed Forces of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic security system.