The maritime component of the annual Sea Breeze exercise series has begun in the British city of Portland.
This was reported by the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
More than 20 countries are participating, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States, alongside NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM).
The main focus of the maritime phase is mine countermeasures, whose importance remains high due to both current and past armed conflicts.
Participating forces will conduct mine-search operations using specialised mine countermeasures vessels, explosive ordnance disposal teams, diving and emergency rescue units, as well as unmanned underwater and surface vehicles.
“Sea Breeze exercises enable NATO allies and partner countries to enhance interoperability and combat capabilities in the Black Sea region. This includes staff planning, control and command, as well as the execution of tactical tasks, with a particular emphasis on integrating diverse systems and capabilities in the challenging conditions of a multi-domain battlespace,” the press release said.
Ukraine’s Naval Forces have deployed five mine countermeasures vessels, which are currently based off the coast of the United Kingdom.
“For the Ukrainian team, clearing mines at sea is daily combat work aimed at supporting security, the freedom of civilian navigation, and the country’s economic resilience. Ukrainian naval personnel have gained — and continue to build — combat experience and are ready to share it with foreign colleagues,” the Navy added.
During the maritime phase of Sea Breeze, NATO will assess the Ukrainian underwater demining team and two mine countermeasures vessels — Mariupol and Melitopol — under its certification programme.
For the first time, the mine countermeasures vessel Henichesk will participate as part of the tactical group. The vessel was recently transferred to the Ukrainian Navy by the Netherlands. The Sandown-class minehunters Chernihiv and Cherkasy are also based in the United Kingdom.