The Ukrainian Navy’s newest vessels, Chernihiv and Cherkasy, have concluded their latest training phase alongside partner nations in the United Kingdom as part of Exercise Sea Breeze 2023.
According to a tweet by the Royal Navy, this marked the end of the current phase of training for the two Ukrainian ships in UK waters.
Two of the Ukrainian Navy’s latest ships have come together with partner nations at the conclusion of Exercise Sea Breeze 2023 in UK waters.
This marks the end of this phase of training for Ukrainian ships Chernihiv and Cherkasy.#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/05wS3M9UwW
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) July 10, 2023
Exercise Sea Breeze 2023 was the first major multinational trial for these recently acquired vessels, presenting a prime opportunity to build their operational capabilities.
Why Scotland?
Traditionally hosted in the Black Sea by the US Sixth Fleet and the Ukrainian Navy, the 22nd iteration of Exercise Sea Breeze, named Alba Breeze this year, was relocated to Glasgow due to recent geopolitical developments.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Navy explained the change, saying, “Exercise Sea Breeze 23-1 is led by the U.S. and will be held in the Firth of Clyde near Glasgow and Loch Ewe, Scotland, June 26-July 7, 2023. The exercise aims to build maritime security and stability operations with multinational partners to enhance the capabilities of Black Sea and Partnership for Peace maritime security forces while progressively training and preparing the Ukraine Maritime Command staff.”
Owing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Turkey had closed the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to all warships, impacting even those nations bordering the Black Sea. Despite these challenges, the NATO-Ukraine joint exercise continued undeterred in its new Scottish backdrop.
The multinational flotilla, which includes a diverse representation of NATO countries, undertook maritime training activities aimed at testing the mettle of Ukraine’s newly acquired vessels.
Given they can’t get to Ukraine until the war is over or there is at least a ceasefire it effectively means there are still a couple of extra Sandown’s available for operations around the UK!
Does anyone know what happened to the deal to build 8 fast patrol boats for them?
They can reach Ukraine and the Black Sea via the Danube river which is connected by canal to the Rhine, enabling sailing via inland European waterways all the way from the North Sea to the Black Sea. The Danube is an international waterway hence countries would not be able to restrict freedom of navigation for these vessels if they wanted to go that way. Given the relatively small displacement of these ships it could definitely be done, and would circumvent political issues around the Dardenelles.
It would be great if they made port visits to Riga and Tallinn – why can’t they enter the Baltic? For fear of upsetting Russia?
Russians understand force, show them force and the futility of fighting and they wind their necks in. We should not back down now.