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Sea Breeze 2013 naval exercises begin in Odesa

Sea Breeze 2013 international naval exercises begin in Odesa on July 8 and will last for two weeks.

Subunits of the armed forces of ten countries are participating in the maneuvers.

"Representatives of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Italy, Canada, Germany, Romania, the United States, Turkey and Ukraine are participating in the maneuvers this year," an expert at the media center of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Serhiy Danylenko, said.

Fifteen warships, in particular, three frigates, a large amphibious assault ship and a fast patrol boat, are to be involved in the exercises. Military aircraft from Ukraine, the United States and Germany, as well as about twenty armored vehicles and specialized machinery of the State Service for Emergency Situations of Ukraine, will also be used.

During the exercises, their participants will practice measures to ensure the safety of maritime navigation, conduct a humanitarian operation to evacuate non-combatants and conduct stabilization actions on land.

Ukrainian-U.S. Sea Breeze exercises have been held annually since 1997 in accordance with a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in defense and military relations between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine dated 1993.

Adapted from Ukrinform