Odessa, 18 JULY 2016, CONTEXT-Prichernomorie -- In Odessa took place the solemn opening of the Ukrainian-American exercises «Sea Breeze-2016», the correspondent of IA «Context-Prichernomorie» reports.

The opening ceremony was held today, July 18, in the House of officers of the Southern Operational Command.

The exercises will be held from 18 to 30 July and will be conducted in the spirit of the NATO program «Partnership for peace». The exercise will be attended by about 4 thousand personnel from 16 countries. Ukraine, the USA, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Finland and Sweden.

The theme of the exercise, which will take place in Odessa and Mykolaiv regions, is to conduct a multinational security operation in crisis regions.

Among the activities, involved more than 25 warships, boats and support vessels of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Service of Ukraine, the United States Navy, the Navy of Romania and the Turkish Navy, about 20 aircraft and helicopters, more than 140 units of automotive and armored vehicles, 700 soldiers of the marine infantry and other ground units. Some of the countries represented in the exercise training group, staff officers, supervisors and instructors. In addition to the Navy of Ukraine and the SBS, the personnel and equipment of the army, Air Force and National Guard also present Ukraine.