ODESSA, Ukraine, July 6 (AVN) -- The Ukrainian and US Navies started the Sea Breeze 2001 command post exercise in the headquarters of Ukraine's Western naval area here on Friday, a spookesman for the exercise staff told the Military News Agency.
The exercise is envisaged by the plan of bilateral military contacts for 2001 and by the Partnership for Peace programme, the spokesman said. It aims to practise a peacekeeping operation in the north-west of the Black Sea. The training scenario envisages three phases, a command post game, coastal and naval stages.
Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Georgia, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States have taken interest to the manoeuvres. Russia is represented by observers.
The servicemen participating in the exercise are to train planning of a peacekeeping operation and forces control during its implementation, guiding combat vessels after trawls, tactical manoeuvring, transfer of cargo on the move, assistance to a damaged vessel. The servicemen will take classes in communication, air defence and antimissile defence, they will practise search and rescue operations in guarding convoys, search and liberation of hostages.
Besides, the exercise involves landing of an international party on a rough coast and establishing security zones.
According to the spokesman, about 1,400 servicemen, 10 vessels, seven planes, three helicopters, 33 pieces of ordnance and formations of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry are taking part in the exercise. It is supervised by Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister and Navy Commander Admiral Mikhail Yezhel.
The exercise is to end on July 16.