On 24 September 2013, the Ukrainian Navy Frigate Hetman Sagaidachny left her home port of Sevastopol to undertake necessary preparations for participation in NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden. For this mission the ship is carrying a helicopter Ka-27 and a group of special forces.

On the same day, the North Atlantic Council approved Ukraine as a full operational partner in Operation Ocean Shield. According to the decision, our state has become the first Partner of the Alliance to participate in the Operation.

Background information. NATO’s counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield was approved by the North Atlantic Council in August 2009 and the mandate has been extended until the end of 2014.

The Operation contributes to providing the safety of commercial maritime routs in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa, in particular in Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.

The Agreement (in the form of exchange of letters) between Ukraine and NATO on Ukraine’s participation in Operation Ocean Shield was signed by the Minister of Defence of Ukraine and NATO Secretary General on 22 February 2013.

On 19 September 2013, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the Law on ratification of the Agreement.