A Canadian warship that's been overseas on a NATO mission is returning to the St. John's harbour Thursday.

HMCS Fredericton left Halifax in January, heading to the Mediteranean.

It was replacing HMCS Winnipeg to take part in Operation Reassurance, a NATO-led mission initiated by Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014.

The Fredericton was then ordered by NATO's European commander to move to the Aegean Sea to help end the smuggling of migrants between Turkey and Greece.

The warship is expected to arrive in port in St. John's around 9:30 a.m. NT.