NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmusen exchanged letters with Ukrainian Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev confirming Ukraine's participation in NATO's Ocean Shield anti-piracy operation.

This agreement formalizes Ukraine's status as the first partner country participating in the Ocean Shield anti-piracy operation and the alliance's only partner country participating in all of its operations.

It is planned that this November Ukraine will provide for Operation Ocean Shield the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy, the Hetman Sahaidachny frigate, with a helicopter and a group of special forces on board.