The U.S. and Ukrainian Sea Breeze 2010 exercises are underway in Odesa.
A team of 50 scuba divers made up from military divers of the U.S. Navy, the Royal Naval Forces of Denmark and the Naval Forces of Ukraine are taking part in the exercises, the press and information department of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on July 13.
"Since these exercises have been conducted for several years already, we have gained the necessary knowledge and skills to perform tasks on a par with our foreign counterparts," said commander of the Ukrainian tactical diving team Captain Victor Dvukhshorstnov.
During the maritime phase of the Sea Breeze 2010, which starts on July 15, the diving team will hold joint exercises in the open sea and participate in a mock assault on a "pirate-held" ship.
Ukraine has been playing host to Black Sea naval exercises since 1997. The drill is generally a bilateral affair (Ukraine and the United States), but other countries are welcome to join in.
There were no Sea Breeze exercises in 2009.
