NATO Multimedia

Exercise Sea Breeze 21 took place in the Black Sea, gathering 32 countries – 15 NATO Allies among them – for intensive maritime training.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 took part in exercise Sea Breeze, which began on 28 June in the Black Sea. The annual exercise, now in its 21st iteration is co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine and aims to strengthen maritime security in the Black Sea region

This year’s exercise, which wrapped up on 10 July, saw more than 30 countries, including 15 NATO Allies, train together. Participants exercised amphibious operations, ship interdictions and anti-submarine warfare, among other maritime missions. During the exercise, the multinational flotilla was shadowed by ships from the Russian Federation Navy, including the frigate RFS Ladny.

Footage includes shots of ships sailing in formation; the US Navy destroyer USS Ross conducting a gunnery exercise; the RFS Ladny sailing past the USS Ross; and an interview with the captain of the USS Ross, Commander John D. John. NATO videographers were vaccinated prior to filming and were not required to wear masks or practise social distancing on board the USS Ross.

1. (00:00) WIDE SHOT – US NAVY DESTROYER USS ROSS PREPARING TO DEPART PORT OF ODESA, UKRAINE
2. (00:04) BULGARIAN NAVY CORVETTE BNS BODRI LEAVING PORT OF ODESA
3. (00:09) UK ROYAL NAVY OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL HMS TRENT LEAVING PORT OF ODESSA
4. (00:13) VARIOUS SHOTS – US NAVY SAILORS HAUL LINES ABOARD USS ROSS
5. (00:22) VARIOUS SHOTS – UK ROYAL NAVY HMS TRENT UNDERWAY
6. (00:40) WIDE SHOT – FLOTILLA SAILING IN FORMATION
7. (00:45) VARIOUS SHOTS – ITALIAN NAVY FRIGATE ITS VIRGINIO FASAN UNDERWAY
8. (01:02) VARIOUS SHOTS – UKRAINIAN SEA GUARD ANTI-SUBMARINE CORVETTE BG-50 HRYHORIY KUROPYATNYKOV UNDERWAY
9. (01:11) VARIOUS SHOTS – BRIDGE OF USS ROSS
10. (02:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – RUSSIAN NAVY FRIGATE RFS LADNY SAILING PAST USS ROSS
11. (02:20) VARIOUS SHOTS – UK ROYAL NAVY RIGID-HULLED INFLATABLE BOAT (RHIB) APPROACHING USS ROSS
12. (02:28) VARIOUS SHOTS – US NAVY SAILORS MAINTAINING 30mm CANNON ABOARD USS ROSS
13. (02:41) MEDIUM SHOT – 30mm CANNON FIRING DURING GUNNERY EXERCISE ABOARD USS ROSS
14. (02:46) VARIOUS SHOTS – SAILORS FIRING M240B MACHINE GUN DURING GUNNERY EXERCISE
15. (03:00) TIME LAPSE – USS ROSS PULLING AWAY FROM PORT OF ODESSA
16. (03:05) SLOW-MO SHOT – US FLAG WAVING IN WIND
17. (03:10) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – US NAVY COMMANDER JOHN D. JOHN, CAPTAIN, USS ROSS

“USS Ross is participating in Sea Breeze 21. It’s an annual exercise co-hosted by Ukraine and the United States as a tangible demonstration for our ability to operate together and go to sea together.”

1. (03:23) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – US NAVY COMMANDER JOHN D. JOHN, CAPTAIN, USS ROSS

“The objective of Sea Breeze 21 is to bring together all of our NATO Allies and partners in the opportunity to enhance our collective warfighting readiness in the Black Sea region to ensure that this region, like every other international body of water, remains safe, stable and open to the international community.”

1. (03:42) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – US NAVY COMMANDER JOHN D. JOHN, CAPTAIN, USS ROSS

“We have nations who are not participating in the Sea Breeze 21 exercise, who are exercising themselves in international waters. And our response to anybody that’s operating in international waters, is that we expect everybody to operate in accordance with international law and maritime regulations with due regard for safety, just as we are.”