Ukraine's Navy has, for the first time, been certified by NATO to command multinational mine countermeasure forces after passing the Alliance's NEL-2 operational evaluation during the Sea Breeze 2026

Intelligence summary

Ukraine's Navy has, for the first time, been certified by NATO to command multinational mine countermeasure forces after passing the Alliance's NEL-2 operational evaluation during the Sea Breeze 2026 exercise. The certification confirms Ukraine can lead NATO-standard mine-clearing operations and coordinate multinational naval units, marking a major milestone in its military integration with the Alliance. Source: RBC-Ukraine