The Verkhovna Rada has supported a bill of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on the ratification of an agreement (in the form of an exchange of letters) between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Ukraine's participation in Operation Ocean Shield.

A total of 331 lawmakers registered in the parliament's session hall voted for this bill on Thursday.

Speaking from the parliamentary rostrum, Party of Regions MP Mykhailo Chechetov said: "This operation is a NATO-led operation on the fight against Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of the Horn of Africa, which was launched in August 2009. The agreement stipulates that Ukraine will provide support for this operation by sending its national contingent, in particular, the Hetman Sahaidachny frigate with a Ka-27 helicopter and a special-purpose group on board, for participation in the 90-day operation at its initial stage in the second half of 2013."