Ukrainian-US Military Exercises Sea Breeze started in the Black Sea

International Ukrainian-US military exercise “Sea Breeze”, involving 16 countries and 4,000 personnel, began on Monday, July 18, in the north-western part of the Black Sea, Odessa and Nikolaev areas. The opening ceremony of the manoeuvres took place in Odessa.

The Ukrainian side in this year's manoeuvres is led by Captain of the First Rank, Alexei Doskato, while the American division is headed by Captain of the First Rank, Richard Dromerhauzer.

Sea Breeze exercises have been held since 1997. This year's exercises significantly expand the geography of places and areas of conduct. “Time has shown that they are one of the most effective measures of international cooperation, since they allow the training of soldiers, ships and units to work out cooperation, exchange experiences and establish friendly relations,” said First Deputy Commander of Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andrey Tarasov.

Besides Ukraine and the United States, Sea Breeze sees the participation of Bulgaria, Great Britain, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Sweden and Finland. Manoeuvres to practise "stabilization operations during operation in the crisis region to NATO standards" will involve 25 warships, boats and supply vessels of the Ukrainian, US, Romanian and Turkish navies, 20 airplanes and helicopters, more than 140 cars and armored vehicles, and 700 personnel of Marine and Army units, says the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. As part of the exercise, scheduled tasks are to be held in combat sea and air landing, working artillery during anti-airborne defense, overcoming water obstacles with the assistance of engineer units, specific actions to ensure security in the maritime sector, search and rescue operations at sea, firing artillery guns of various calibers (14.5, 30, 76.2 mm), control and inspection of suspect ships, aerial reconnaissance operations to destroy bridges, and the construction of floating pontoons.

Further, this week, in the territorial waters of Romania and international waters of the Black Sea, extensive international exercises involving the naval forces of Romania are taking place, named “Sea Shield,” on 18-22 July. "As part of the exercise it will be evaluated, by the structure of the Romanian Navy, which should become part of the NATO Response Force," the Romanian Navy said Monday. A thousand Romanian sailors and sailors will fulfil the standard NATO procedure to repel submarines, air threats and threats from the sea. 22 ships and nine aircraft will be involved.

Dimitri Dolaberidze