Sea Breeze 2021 takes place after tensions escalate between NATO and Moscow. Russia announced last week that its border patrol ship and bomber Su-24 in the Black Sea had sent warning shots against a British squadron minesweeper that had entered Russian territorial waters. London denied these claims by Moscow.
Russia occupied Crimea in 2014 and claims that it is now Russian territory, but the international community still considers the peninsula part of Ukraine.
The Russian embassy in Washington last week called for the cancellation of Sea Breeze 2021, and Russia’s defense ministry said it would respond if necessary to protect national security.
Sea Breeze 2021 will last for two weeks. The exercise will be attended by about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other countries, and about 30 ships and 40 aircraft. The USS Ross minesweeper and the United States Marine Corps will also be used in the exercise.
Ukraine stated that the main purpose of the exercise was to gain experience in joint military activities in multinational peacekeeping and security operations.
