MOSCOW, 2 June (BelTA) – Modern weapons will be delivered to Ukraine under the guise of NATO's Sea Breeze exercise, BelTA learned from the spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov.
The press service of the Russian Defense Ministry quoted Igor Konashenkov as saying: “While Western countries keep accusing Russia of allegedly building up the military potential at its southwestern borders, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the United States Joint Forces Command intend to stage the joint exercise Sea Breeze in the European zone with assistance of NATO countries on 28 June – 10 July.”
The main participants of the exercise are Ukraine, USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Latvia, and partner states. About 4,000 military personnel will be deployed as well as 40 navy ships, boats, and auxiliary vessels, 30 aerial units, and over 100 vehicles and armored units.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, special forces from different countries will be deployed in Ukraine as part of the exercise and will practice interaction between units in the course of joint missions. The Russian Defense Ministry believes that modern weapons, ammunition, and materiel for the Ukrainian army will be delivered under the guise of the exercise. These assets will be handed over later on to the Ukrainian troops and nationalistic units, which are deployed next to the areas of Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast that Kiev does not control.
Igor Konashenkov noted that in accordance with the scenario of the exercise a coalition force will be used to stabilize a crisis situation caused by some illegal armed units, who are supported by a neighboring country. The officer mentioned peculiarities of the forthcoming exercise in detail.
As part of the exercise special operations forces will be inserted into Ukraine via a sea-launched assault and will have to work together with Ukrainian army units in military exercise areas in Kherson Oblast and Nikolayev Oblast. Igor Konashenkov stressed: “Although the exercise is classified as a sea one, the scope of its military activity will go far beyond the Ukrainian part of the Black Sea.”
Igor Konashenkov added: “The Russian Defense Ministry will closely follow preparations for and the actual Ukrainian-American exercise Sea Breeze involving NATO countries. If necessary, the Defense Ministry will respond adequately to safeguard the military security of the Russian Federation.”
