Russian Response to US "Sea Breeze" Maneuvers
Following the US exercise "Sea Breeze" with more than 30 countries in the world, the Russian Black Sea Fleet and aviation of the Southern Military District (YUFO) are conducting exercises in the Black Sea in response to the US joint maneuvers.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet aviation and the Southern Military District (YUFO) aviation conducted combat training flights over the Black Sea.
The flights come in light of the annual Sea Breeze exercise that the United States conducts with more than 30 countries around the world.
The Information Support Department of the Black Sea Fleet stated that "Sea Breeze" maneuvers began last Monday in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, and will continue until July 10.
The Russian Defense Ministry indicated that "the Black Sea Fleet forces are implementing a set of measures to control the movements of ships participating in the exercises."
The statement added that "more than ten aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet and the Southern Military District (UFO), conducted training flights over the Black Sea, with training missions that include missile and bomb strikes against the ships of the imaginary enemy."
The statement indicated that "Su-30SM multipurpose fighters and Su-24M front-line bombers were used by the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, and Su-34 and Su-27 bombers from the squadron were used in the YUFO area. Prior to that, the amphibious aircraft (B-2) crew from naval aviation conducted a reconnaissance of conditional targets in the Black Sea."
5,000 soldiers, 40 aircraft, and 32 ships from 32 countries, including Ukraine, the United States, and NATO members, are expected to participate in the "Sea Breeze" exercises.
Ukraine and NATO have launched Sea Breeze exercises in the Black Sea, which will involve dozens of warships, following an incident with a British destroyer off the Crimean peninsula.
The "Sea Breeze" official account published the maneuvers on Twitter, quoting the tweet of one of the journalists accompanying the US destroyer "USS Rose".
I just returned from an embed aboard the USS Ross destroyer in the Black Sea.
— Nolan Peterson (@nolanwpeterson) July 2, 2021
We were shadowed by multiple Russian warships….and got buzzed by some Russian warplanes. All while in international waters. pic.twitter.com/zDQha2zlzJ