Ukrainian Navy Granted Authority to Command NATO Forces for the First Time

The Ukrainian Navy has, for the first time in its history, earned the right to command NATO’s multinational mine countermeasures forces.

The Ukrainian Navy’s press service announced this on social media.

During the Sea Breeze 2026 international exercise, the Mine Countermeasures Staff of the 1st Minesweeper Division of the Ukrainian Navy successfully completed the NATO Evaluation Level2 (NEL-2) certification. As a result, the unit has been certified to NATO standards and is now authorized to command NATO multinational mine countermeasures forces.

Following the evaluation, the unit was awarded the status of Mission Capable, indicating that it is fully capable of carrying out its assigned missions. This certification confirms that the Ukrainian headquarters has achieved full operational capability to perform tasks in accordance with NATO Allied Command Operations standards.

The NEL-2 evaluation not only certifies the unit’s interoperability with NATO forces but also confirms its ability to independently carry out operational missions and command multinational forces.

Successfully completing the evaluation means that the Ukrainian 1st Minesweeper Division has been officially integrated into NATO’s mine countermeasures command and control structure.

The certification confirms that the Ukrainian unit is now authorized by NATO to command subordinate multinational forces, operate alongside the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), and carry out the full range of maritime mine countermeasures operations.

“For the first time in the history of Ukraine’s modern Navy, a Ukrainian unit has been officially integrated into NATO’s command structure for maritime mine countermeasures,” the Ukrainian Navy said.

The achievement marks the culmination of three years of preparation carried out during Russia’s full-scale invasion. Throughout that period, Ukrainian naval personnel implemented NATO standards and doctrines while steadily developing the operational capabilities required for certification.

The maritime phase of the Sea Breeze 2026 exercise involved five Ukrainian mine countermeasures vessels, which are currently based in the United Kingdom.

Another key element of the program was the evaluation of the Mine Countermeasures Tactical Group Headquarters, the Underwater Demining Team, and two Alkmaar-class minehunters – Mariupol and Melitopol.

In addition, the minehunter Henichesk, which Ukraine recently received from the Netherlands, joined the Sea Breeze tactical group for the first time.