The corvette Ternopol of the Ukrainian Navy has sailed off from the Black Sea port of Sevastopol to join the NATO's Active Endeavour mission in the Mediterranean, the press office of Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
Under Operation Active Endeavour, NATO ships are patrolling the Mediterranean and monitoring shipping to help detect and protect against terrorist activity. The operation has been launched as NATO's response to the terrorist attacks against the United States of 11 September 2001.
"I am pleased to say that the Ternopol corvette is participating for the fifth time in the Active Endeavour mission," Viktor Maksimov, the Ukrainian navy chief, said.
The corvette is expected during its patrols in the Mediterranean Sea to conduct training and implement practical steps to monitor civilian shipping. In addition, the crew will collect and view information about suspicious vessels and accompany ships with important cargoes.
Ukraine has been the second country after Russia outside the NATO alliance to join the Active Endeavour mission in the Mediterranean.
KIEV, November 7 (RIA Novosti)
