Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan participates in Sea Breeze 19

Alongside forces from 18 other Allies and partners, HMSDuncan is contributing to the major multinational maritime training exercisefeaturing a combined 3,000 troops, 32 ships and 24 aircraft. The ship isparticipating in the exercise as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 andhas received support on Sea Breeze 19 from their colleagues deployed onOperation Orbital – the UK’s training mission to Ukraine.

The HMS Duncan also hosted Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelenskyy during his visit to the Port of Odesa as part of Ukraine Navy Day.

Commodore Michael Utley, commander of the United KingdomCarrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG), met with Navy personnel aboard HMS Duncan aspart of a visit to the exercise.

COMUKCSG Commodore Michael Utley said: "With amultitude of nations combining a wealth of maritime assets, Exercise Sea Breeze2019 demonstrates the strength of solidarity between Ukraine and itsinternational partners."

"From crucial training exercises to long-term politicalreform – the U.K. is committed to standing by Ukraine, whilst Russia maintainsits illegal annexation of Crimea."

Since 2015 the UK has helped build the resilience andcapacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces through Operation Orbital, providingtraining to over 16,000 personnel so far.

Earlier this year the operation expanded to include maritimetraining, including seamanship, sea survival and maritime tactical trainingcourses.

The UK also supports Ukraine in its institutional reforms of the defence and security sector, helping to drive more effective governance and will soon introduce a permanent Naval Attaché to the UK Defence Section in Kyiv, Ukraine, to help build Ukrainian naval capability.