Repulsing the attack of high-speed small craft, firing at coastal, sea and air targets, simulating an air attack of a ship and air defence during the transition at sea - this year's training is surprisingly intense.

Repulsing the attack of high-speed small craft, firing at coastal, sea and air targets, simulating an air attack of a ship and air defence during the transition at sea - this year's training is surprisingly intense.

It should be noted that due to the global pandemic, Sea Breeze 2020 is being held in quarantine mode - contactless.

After meeting at the rendezvous point on the high seas, the multinational contingent, in accordance with the exercise distribution planned by the headquarters, went in tactical groups to the areas of the event.

Traditionally, the northern neighbour closely monitored the maneuvers of NATO ships, tirelessly accompanied them with ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, closed areas in their clumsy style, and the Coast Guard of the Russion Federation regularly called foreign ships to “stay away”, shamelessly calling the waters around the occupied peninsula their own, redistributing internationally recognized exclusive (maritime) economic zones of the Black Sea region at their own discretion.

It should be reminded that the main purpose of the Sea Breeze 2020 training is to work out stabilization actions in the crisis region with the participation of a multinational contingent.

Thus, the participants of the training practiced not only combat coherence and compatibility, but also endurance and resilience in conditions of psychological pressure, readiness to resolve conflicts at sea, appealing to the norms of international maritime law.

Tactical maneuvering in the ranks and warrants, exchange of information and targeting between ships, repulsing the attack of high-speed small craft, firing on shore, sea and air targets, simulation of an air attack on the ship and air defense during the transition at sea - all these elements of training are traditionally practiced according to NATO standards. This year, the flagship of the Maritime Guard - the ship “Hryhorii Kuropiatnykov” - in a large tactical group of the international contingent led a number of elements, including artillery fire, air defence, search and rescue operations.

“Developing and reforming, the Maritime Guard of the State Border Guard Service deepens international cooperation at all levels, from improving the skills and abilities of personnel - language, command, tactical - to increasing and improving logistics. It is symbolic that the signing and approval of the contract on the start of production for the Maritime Guard of new ships under the Ukrainian-French project took place during the international training,” said the representative of Maritime Guard in the training headquarters, 1st Rank Captain Yurii Nechyporuk.

The weather conditions became an additional test for the participants of the training. Yes, night light production had to be performed in stormy weather, in fact during a thunderstorm. It is no secret that sailors have certain categorical superstitions, but the natural phenomenon was perceived as a good sign. In the morning, the humanitarian block of elements: rescuing a man overboard, training to tow a ship that lost its course as a result of the accident, and the struggle for the survivability of the surface ship was practiced in the classic July heat.

The training leaders from the Ukrainian and American sides praised the level of training and performing the elements at sea, as well as the coordination of work of the integrated training headquarters.