16 Ukrainian warships to participate in Sea Breeze exercise

18.05.2010 16 Ukrainian warships will take part in joint naval exercise Sea Breeze 2010, reports Rosbalt referring to Ukrainian Navy Press Service.

Except for ships, Ukrainian Navy will be represented by 2 helicopters, 2 aircrafts, reinforced marine battalion, and divers. Land forces will dispatch 1 ambulance helicopter and 4 transport helicopters; Air Force – medical evacuation aircraft; Frontier Service – 5 patrol boats.

In addition, it is planned that among other attendants will be Danish divers, 1 Georgian and 1 Moldavian infantry platoons, a US warship and divers, a Turkish warship and 2 motor boats, a German aircraft and airborne training instructors. Totally, 9 countries intend to participate in the Sea Breeze exercise in Odessa and Nikolayev regions in July 2010: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Moldova, Germany, the United States of America, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Coastal phase of the exercise will be held at Shiroky Lan Range in Nikolayev region; sea phase will be carried out in northwest part of the Black Sea. Exercise headquarters will be located in Odessa. The culmination is expected to be a release operation of a vessel captured by pirates, and landing operation against pirates' coastal base.

As reported by Rosbalt, it's up to Ukraine's parliament whether to allow NATO forces into Ukraine to conduct the exercise. The question is a 500-men force with small arms. Apart from personnel, up to 15 foreign warships, a submarine and 4 helicopters will be involved.