Ships of the Ukrainian Navy joined the Sea Breeze exercises (photo)
27.06.2023 - 14:40
On the territory of the United Kingdom, on June 26, a training complex began as part of the Sea Breeze series of exercises, in which the ships of the Naval Forces of Ukraine also took part.
On June 26, a ceremony was held in Glasgow (Scotland) dedicated to the beginning of the training, with the participation of representatives of 18 participating countries, the the Naval Forces of Ukraine reported.
The event was held with the participation of the Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa. He thanked Great Britain for providing its territory for conducting exercises and for supporting the Navy, as well as the commander of the US Navy’s 6th Fleet for facilitating training and support.
On the Ukrainian side, the flotilla commander, Captain 1st rank Yurii Fedash, is in charge of the training.
The main task of the training complex as part of Sea Breeze training
2023 is preparation for planning and conducting mine action. The main emphasis is on training the headquarters of the mine action tactical group in accordance with NATO standards and procedures. Samples of weapons and military equipment, which the Navy received from partner countries, will be used for the exercises.
Equally important are the training of Sandown-class “Cherkasy” and “Chernihiv” mine countermeasures ships of the Navy, underwater demining groups and underwater drones to conduct mine countermeasures as part of tactical groups.
The main result of the exercises as part of the training will be the readiness of multinational forces to conduct an operation to free the Black Sea from mine security and restore safe navigation.
Sea Breeze is a multinational military exercise that has been held on the territory of Ukraine since 1997. Co-organizers are Ukraine and the USA.
Earlier, USM reported that the Ukrainian minesweepers “Chernihiv” and “Cherkasy” left the Scottish port of Rosyth after modernization. Sandown-class ships have been in service with the British Navy since 1989. Only 15 such ships were built during the entire time.
In August 2021, Great Britain officially announced the transfer of two minesweepers to Ukraine. Already in January 2022, the agreement was ratified. Subsequently, the vessels were sent for modernization to the Scottish port of Rosyth.
The ships were named “Cherkasy” and “Chernihiv” in honor of the minesweepers of the same name lost by Ukraine in 2014. In January 2023, the Ukrainian flag was raised on the ships and put to sea — for the first time after modernization.
