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UK-hosted naval exercise completes two years’ training for Ukrainian minehunters
9 July 2024
Ukrainian sailors are more ready than ever to deal with the threat of mines after a two-week workout with their international friends and allies in UK waters.
For the second year running, Britain hosted the Ukraine/US-Navies’ premier minehunting exercise, Sea Breeze: 14 nations committed to keeping the sea lanes free for the safe passage of shipping against the threat of mines and underwater explosive devices.
The long-standing exercise was typically hosted in the Black Sea, but since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the resulting closure of the Bosporus to warships under the Montreux Convention, staging it there is not possible at present.
Instead, the Firth of Clyde and northern Minches served as the exercise areas for the participating navies, while their activities were choreographed by staff based at King George V Docks in Glasgow.
Sea Breeze 24 served as the culmination of two years of training for the Ukrainian staff and MCMV crews enabling them to successfully plan, control and execute mine countermeasure activities in a range of scenarios.
Over those two years, two former Royal Navy minehunters (HMS Shoreham and Grimsby) have been transferred to the Ukrainian Navy – as Cherkasy and Chernihiv, which took part in last year’s iteration of the exercise, as well as the UK-led Joint Warrior war game played out in the same waters.
To operate the Sandown-class vessels, which have seen extensive service in European and Middle Eastern waters, the Royal Navy has provided comprehensive training to its Ukrainian allies, not just in using the ships and their sensors and systems, but also to train divers who are integral to successful operations.
All of which has come to fruition over the past couple of weeks as the Ukrainian vessels worked alongside ships from NATO’s Mine Countermeasures Group 1: FGS Donau (Germany), EML Ugandi (Estonia – and another Sandown-class ship, previously HMS Bridport) and FS Cephee (France) supporting the training and underlining international cooperation.
Captain Denys Ivanin, the Ukrainian Navy’s Sea Breeze Director said the involvement of the “international mentors” and their sharing of support and expert knowledge had been key to the exercise’s success.
It’s always good to see several nations working to support each other, and that interoperability across the nations is what keeps the Alliance and our Partners strong.
“My team has benefitted in many ways but our approach from planning to developing tactics and practices to the betterment of my staff and crews on our counter-measure vessels has undoubtedly improved our capability.
“In the future I feel we can make an effective contribution to the regional security with our mine clearance capability within the Black Sea.”
Commodore Steve Banfield, the Royal Navy’s Co-Chair of the Maritime Capability Development Coalition for Ukraine, said he was extremely impressed with the outcome of Sea Breeze 24.
“Having met all their training objectives and exceeded all expectations, the crews of the Ukrainian Mine Counter Measure Vessels and command staff’s enthusiasm has been exemplary. International maritime collaboration between allies is crucial for this endeavour and will, I’m sure, continue to grow into the future.”
Equally impressed was US Rear Admiral Thomas Wall, USN, NATO’s Commander Submarines NATO.
“Over the past two years, the Ukrainian Navy has undergone exceptional training, and this exercise has been the final test of their capabilities. I have been hugely impressed and inspired by the crews of the Chernihiv and Cherkasy, the amount they have achieved in such a short period of time is truly remarkable.
“It’s always good to see several nations working to support each other, and that interoperability across the nations is what keeps the Alliance and our Partners strong.”
Four nations with Black Sea coasts took part in the exercise – Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia, in addition to Ukraine – so all will benefit from the experience of Sea Breeze; an estimated 500 mines have been sown by Russia in the enclosed sea since it invaded more than two years ago.
Completing the ‘line up’ – in addition to the participating warships- were military personnel from the UK, US, Greece, Japan, Poland and Sweden, working around the clock to mentor and support the Ukrainian command team delivering the exercise.