Corvette Ternopil returned to Sevastopol after Operation Active Endeavour

27.12.2010 Late in the last week Ukrainian corvette Ternopil returned to Sevastopol from the Mediterranean Sea where she had been taking part in NATO's anti-terror Operation Active Endeavour.

Triumphant meeting ceremony took part on the pier of Kurinaya Bay; among attendants were Ukrainian Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Maksimov, Sevastopol Mayor Valery Saratov, chairman of Sevastopol city council Yury Doinikov, and veterans of Ukrainian Navy. Young ladies dressed in national costumes handed over traditional bread-and-salt to Capt 2 rank Dmitry Zinchenko.

Speaking at the brief meeting on board the ship, Admiral Viktor Maksimov satisfyingly noted that Ternopil had worthily flied national flag of Ukraine through the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Mediterranean Sea, and successfully accomplished all assigned tasks. Talking on behalf of the naval council, the commander thanked the crew for excellent performance of duties and ordered to submit candidates for rewards.

Leaders of the city administration Valery Saratov and Yury Doinikov also sincerely greeted the sailors.

Commanding officer of Ternopil Capt 3 rank Grigory Breyev thanked command of Ukrainian Navy for the confidence and permanent attention to the ship.

Capt 2 rank Dmitry Zinchenko said in the interview that the crew took part in 5 patrols in various regions of the Mediterranean Sea and at different distances from logistic support base Souda Bay (Crete Island, Greece). According to his information, Ternopil had covered 4,814 nautical miles through 25 vessel-days and interrogated 100 civil ships. As for Dmitry Zinchenko, no breakdowns had been occurred during the cruise.

Ukrainian Navy Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Yury Ilyin pointed out that "the cruise was of great significance for the country; Ukraine once again demonstrated fulfillment of all international commitments, being a state which cares of security in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and proves its readiness to fight terrorism". Ukrainian Navy is willing to continue performing of such task whenever needed, added Yury Ilyin.

As was reported, corvette Ternopil sailed off Sevastopol on Nov 7 heading for the Mediterranean and fell into NATO Operation Active Endeavour in mid-Nov. In the intervals between patrols, the crewmen had a special training course on planning, organization, and conducting of sea intercept operations.

Anti-terror NATO Operation Active Endeavour has been conducted in the Mediterranean Sea since 2001.