US and Ukraine conduct joint military exercises in the Black Sea

The international Ukrainian-American exercises Sea Breeze continues in the Black Sea. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will be limited only to the sea phase and aviation maneuvers, according to the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, writes "Voice of America".

Photo: Shutterstock

All events take place in the Black Sea without contacts among the personnel. In the process of naval exercises, the ships of the participating countries will carry out joint tactical maneuvers, train in organizing communications, counter minefields, and transfer cargo on the move.

"The crews of ships and boats will work out the issues of interaction with tactical and naval aviation, conduct a series of exercises on anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-boat defense at sea crossing, tasks for sea interception and inspection of the intruder vessel," the message says.

“The participation of the United States in these multinational exercises once again confirms the attitude of the US Navy and the Sixth Fleet in particular towards our allies and NATO partners. The Sea Breeze exercise is a real demonstration of the US commitment to collective defense of Europe. Therefore, these exercises, together with our partners, are taking place in the Black Sea region, ”said the commander of the US Navy's Sixth Fleet, Vice Admiral Eugene Black.

According to the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, the main purpose of Sea Breeze is to maintain stability and security in the Black Sea region. The main task for the naval component of the exercise is to train operations according to the Alliance standards, aimed at ensuring peace and security in the crisis region.

The Sea Breeze international exercise will last seven days. They will involve the USS Porter Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer and the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft, ships of the permanent NATO naval group. The personnel and command personnel will be represented by two thousand naval sailors from nine countries, twenty ships from Ukraine, the USA, Bulgaria, Georgia, Norway, France, Romania, Spain and Turkey.

About the Mark VI patrol boats

17 July, U.S. Department of State approves possible sale of up to sixteen Mark VI patrol boats to the Ukrainian government and equipment for them for a total amount of $ 600 million.

The report notes that the Ukrainian government has made a request for the purchase of sixteen Mark VI patrol boats, 32 MSI Seahawk A2 firing systems, twenty optoelectronic and infrared radars, forty MK44 guns.

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The contractor for the deal is SAFE Boats International. Ukraine intends to use the vessels to "protect territorial waters and protect interests at sea." The Sea Breeze International Exercise Facebook page states that the maneuvers of Ukraine and the United States have been held for the twentieth time since 1997.

Constitution and cooperation with NATO

Serhiy Grabskiy, head of the Union of Peacekeeping Operations Participants Association, notes that Euro-Atlantic integration is a constitutional obligation of Ukraine.

“Therefore, any interaction with NATO structures is useful for us. I can recall my experience when, during the operations in Iraq, in the structure of the NATO training mission, we performed tasks on the same rights as the regular NATO officers. Experience in working out documents and agreeing procedures is an exceptional experience, it saves a huge amount of time and resources, ”says Sergey Grabsky.

He believes that the skills gained during the Sea Breeze exercises and other joint maneuvers should be practiced and "must be implemented into the practical skills of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

“It is imperative to act and apply these skills. The system of the Armed Forces is switching over to the system of NATO standards, any exercises are an opportunity to receive information and skills that will also be used in the liberation of Crimea, ”says Sergei Grabsky.

In the event of a possible Russian aggression on the southern border, according to Sergei Grabskiy, Ukraine has enough strength to repel the strike.

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“At this stage, we have entered NATO's enhanced capabilities program and as long as we are not a member country of the Alliance, no one but us will protect our interests. It is up to Ukraine to defend its borders. But thanks to cooperation with NATO, we have access to intelligence information that we can receive online, ”says Sergei Grabsky.

The status of a partner in NATO's expanded partnership program, emphasizes Serhiy Grabsky, allows Ukraine to receive weapons and equipment according to a simplified system.

Signal for Russia

According to political scientist Oleg Ponomar, the Sea Breeze exercises are taking place in a strategically important region - the Black Sea and are a kind of signal to Russia.

“This is the experience and interaction of Ukrainian sailors with colleagues from NATO, and this is a signal to Russia that in the Black Sea Ukraine has the support of NATO and the United States as a strategic partner. I hope this factor has an impact - it cools down Russian aggressive intentions, ”says Oleg Ponomar.

He believes that since 2014, the moment of Russian aggression, the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of certain areas of Donbass, Ukraine has been developing new defense skills adopted in NATO units.

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