Exercise Sea Breeze 2025 strengthens mine-clearing capabilities and naval cooperation amid ongoing threats in the Black Sea
In a strong show of support for Ukraine, NATO naval forces joined the Royal Navy off the coast of Dorset this week for Exercise Sea Breeze 2025, a multinational maritime training operation aimed at boosting Ukraine’s naval capabilities during wartime.
Warships and crews from the UK, United States, France, Belgium, Greece, Poland, and the Netherlands participated in the exercise, which focused on joint operations, mine-clearing techniques, and strategic coordination in high-risk maritime environments.
Royal Navy Commodore Steve Banfield, who co-leads NATO’s maritime capability coalition for Ukraine, emphasized the importance of collective training: “The only way navies can work together is by training together.” He noted that the goal is to equip Ukrainian forces with the expertise to operate modern Mine Counter Measure (MCM) vessels, which are critical for clearing mines in conflict zones like the Black Sea.
Banfield acknowledged that both Russia and Ukraine have laid extensive mines during the war, making post-conflict mine clearance a priority for future maritime safety and trade. “Keeping shipping lanes open is vital,” he said, pointing to Ukraine’s significant role in global agricultural exports. “This training ensures operators and battle staffs are ready to perform these operations effectively, even under combat conditions.”
The event also served as a platform for knowledge exchange, with NATO learning from Ukraine’s front-line experience. Ukrainian Commodore Dmytro Kovalenko, head of the Navy’s training command, underscored the difference between simulated exercises and the reality his forces face daily.
“There are not many countries in the world with real combat experience during wartime,” he said. “We are constantly under threat from unmanned systems, and our focus is on protecting our ships and ports from relentless attacks.”
Kovalenko described the war as a fight for the very existence of Ukraine. “The whole nation is a target,” he said. “We are struggling for the survival of the nation.”