Ukraine has long history of participating in all major NATO-led operations and missions.
At this stage, after withdrawing military personnel from Afghanistan, the Ukrainian national contingent will remain deployed to the NATO Mission in Kosovo (KFOR).
Along with this, Ukraine is currently working on joining NATO Mission in Iraq and NATO Operation “Sea Guardian”.
NATO MISSION IN KOSOVO (KFOR)
The Ukrainian national contingent consists of 40 military personnel from Ukraine’s Armed Forces engineering regiments who are deployed on a rotational basis.
Composition of the contingent: engineering unit, a staff officer in KFOR Headquarters (HQ) and the support element.
The national contingent performs tasks as a part of Joint Logistic Support Group of KFOR.
The main tasks of the contingent include:
to ensure freedom of movement in the KFOR area of responsibility, organizing and conducting mine safety measures in the interests of both KFOR forces and the local population, demining and disposal of explosive devices, and other engineering tasks throughout KFOR area of responsibility.
NATO MISSION IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN – “RESOLUTE SUPPORT” (RSM)
In line with the decision of the Alliance to close Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, Ukrainian national personnel has been redeployed from Afghanistan in June 2021.
NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI)
Ukraine is a Potential Operational Partner in NMI since February 2019. Upon becoming a (full) Operational Partner, Ukraine will join the Mission contributing national personnel.
Operation Sea Guardian (OSG)
Ukraine is a Potential Operational Partner in OSG since July 2020.
Upon becoming a (full) Operational Partner Ukraine will contribute to OSG:
two Island Class Patrol Boats;
the Krivak III-class Frigate “Hetman Sahaydachniy” with a helicopter and a Boarding Party.
NATO RESPONSE FORCE (NRF)
Ukraine is the first country among NATO’s Partners. which joined the NRF. Since 2010, the units of Ukraine’s Armed Forces are continuously on a stand-by duty in the NRF.
In addition, Ukraine is the first country among NATO’s Partners to have certified a unit of Special Operations Forces in 2019 to participate in the NRF.
In 2021 Ukraine has declared national assets to the Follow-on Forces Group – Multipurpose Strategic Airlifter IL-76MD and a unit of Special Operations Forces.
NATO EXERCISES
Preparation and participation of the Ukraine’s Armed Forces in NATO collective training events and exercises allow for an increased level of training and interoperability of military authorities and units to act within multinational task forces.
Since 2015, there has been a positive trend in the number of NATO exercises, in which staff officers and units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have participated as observers and participants. The Armed Forces of Ukraine participated in 5 NATO exercises in 2018 and in 6 – in 2019, 1 – in 2020 (due to the pandemic of COVID-19). In 2021, Ukraine plans to participate in
11 NATO exercises.
It should be noted that in addition to NATO’s collective training events and exercises, Ukraine participates in multinational exercises with individual Allies, as well as organizes such exercises in own territory. Over the past two years, the number of such exercises with participation of the Ukraine’s Armed Forces has exceeded 30 per year.
NATO exercises are those exercises that are included into Military Training and Exercise Programme: Open to Partners and Non-NATO Entities Portion (МТЕР ОТР).