The exercise is organized in the free play format and commanded by a headquarters established in accordance with NATO standards. The drills will end on July 23.
Over 30 warships and 25 aircraft and helicopters are involved in the drills. The US military is represented by the USS Hue City missile cruiser, the USS Carney missile destroyer, a P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine plane and some 800 personnel.
The port of Odessa is also hosting several NATO warships, including a Turkish frigate and a Romanian corvette. From the Ukrainian side, some 10 warships and boats are involved.
In January, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a law allowing foreign troops to be present in the country in 2017 to participate in multinational drills. The document outlines the admission of the US military, military of other NATO member states and the countries participating in the NATO's Partnership for Peace program totaling up to 3,000 personnel with weapons and military equipment, up to six aircraft and helicopters for up to 365 days in January-December 2017.
Fueling the Situation in the Black Sea
Despite the new format, this year’s drills, like in the previous years, are maritime-focused, practicing air defense, anti-submarine, search and rescue operations and are aimed at strengthening cooperation among allies to ensure stability in the Black Sea region.
The USS Hue City is equipped with the Aegis combat system and can carry up to 122 missiles. The USS Carney is also equipped with the Aegis combat system and carries up to 90 anti-aircraft, cruise, anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles.
"The two ships could provide Ukraine with the support of a total of 212 missiles, apart from torpedoes and artillery. This is too much for 'ensuring stability' in the region, especially taking into account that the region is stable. Possibly, the real goal of the US involvement is to fuel tensions in the Black Sea," Khrolenko wrote in an op-ed.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet said its forces will keep an eye on the exercise.
"The Sea Breeze drills will be permanently monitored by the Black Sea Fleet, including with the use of aerial reconnaissance and ground-based stations," a military source told Sputnik.
Moreover, the entire area of the Black Sea is covered by Russia’s Bastion coast-based missile systems.
'Ukraine Preparing Provocations'
Russian military expert and journalist Viktor Baranets suggests that Ukraine may be using the Sea Breeze 2017 drills for its own interests.
"There is one very important moment to be mentioned. Ukraine continues to engage the US in the tensions between Kiev and Moscow. This is a fact and this exercise indicates it. Provocations cannot be ruled out during the drills, including NATO warships crossing the borders vital for Russia’s interests. I guess that Ukraine may be preparing something like that. For Kiev, it would be very important to make Russia and NATO head-butt. This is Kiev’s strategic goal," Baranets said in an interview with Radio Sputnik.
According to the expert, to a certain extent the drills are sending an "anti-Russia message."
"NATO says that it protects the interests of Ukraine. This makes politicians in Kiev, including [President Petro] Poroshenko, happy. They are just like kids playing in a sandbox and waiting for some tough guy to come and protect them," Baranets pointed out.
He added that the Sea Breeze 2017 exercise can be regarded as a "NATO instrument to pressure Russia’s strategic frontiers."
