American Cruiser Held Joint Drills with Ukrainian Mariners

01.02.2012 Ukrainian naval officers and midshipmen traveled from Sevastopol to Odessa on board American guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf, said deputy chief of Ukrainian Navy HQ Capt 1 rank Andrei Ryzhenko on Jan 31.

During the cruise, Ukrainian officers along with American crew practiced peacekeeping and anti-piracy activities, as well as held damage control drill.

According to Ryzhenko, cadets of the Nakhimov Naval Academy familiarized with watch service and damage control system of the US Navy's ship, reports ITAR-TASS.

Guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf arrived in Sevastopol on Jan 26 with unofficial visit and, according to Ukrainian defense ministry, conducted anti-piracy exercise along with crew of Ukrainian Navy flagship Getman Sagaidachny.

Despite the gale, wind gusts up to 20 mps and icing, the ship departed for Odessa on Jan 30 in accordance with schedule. The cruiser is awaited there to hold joint drills with Ukrainian corvette Ternopil.

USS Vella Gulf entered the Black Sea on Jan 21 carrying 26 Tomahawk cruise missiles. When in Romania, the ship attended joint exercise with Romanian frigate. Reportedly, after visits to Ukrainian ports, the cruiser will head for Georgian port Batumi. After the Black Sea cruise, USS Vella Gulf will continue service in naval component of America's missile defense system in eastern Mediterranean.

According to analysts, regular visits of US Navy's Sixth Fleet warships in the Black Sea and demonstration of readiness to use weapons are aimed at consolidation of America's military presence in the region in order to implement missile defense deployment program.