On 8 October 2013, the Ukrainian Naval Forces antisubmarine corvette Ternopil sailed off Sevastopol heading toward the Mediterranean Sea to perform tasks of NATO’s Anti-terror Operation Active Endeavour.

For the mission the ship is carrying an observation team consisting of crew members and a marine unit.

While patrolling, the crew of the Ukrainian corvette will monitor civil shipping, collect and register information on suspect vessels, track and inspect them, escort vessels with important cargo, ensure countermine protection of civilian shipping.

Background information: the practical phase of NATO’s Anti-terror Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean began on 6 October 2001.

The aim of the operation is to prevent smuggling of weapons and drugs, to detert terrorist activity and human trafficking as well as to monitor shipping.

According to the agreement between Ukraine and NATO on Ukraine's participation in naval operations in the Mediterranean, our government supports the Alliance through regular exchange of information on civilian shipping and deployment of Ukrainian Navy vessels and observation teams to the Operation.