Yesterday at 19:23
The training conditions are as close to real as possible – with limited time and urgent tasks. While foreign divers are honing their skills, their Ukrainian colleagues are watching their maneuvers.
“We improve our skills in order to have coordinated actions with an international diving group, and in accordance with NATO standards, as well as other developed countries. As per the scenario, our main task is to be ready to respond to any kind of situations,” Senior Salvage Office of the Ukrainian Naval Forces Oleksiy Nesterov said.
One-hundred-twenty-five divers from Ukraine, the United States, Great Britain, Georgia, Latvia, and Romania took part in the exercise. It was included in the compulsory program of the Sea Breeze exercises in 2005. Since the annexation of Crimea, divers have been in extreme demand.
“After the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, we didn’t have a lot of trained divers. We had no equipment. Since 2014, the Naval Forces have started everything from scratch. Thanks to these drills, we made it possible for divers to hone their skills. Now, we have many professionals trained to work underwater and clear explosives,” First Deputy Commander of Ukrainian Naval Forces Oleksiy Neizhpapa said.
During their training, divers employed special equipment: acoustic sonars and robots. They are used for detecting explosives underwater, as well as inspecting sunken objects.
Some of the equipment will be handed over to sailors as soon as they learn how to use it. The next stage of the drills is scheduled for Friday (July 5) with artillery exercises, surveying operations, and interactions of special forces.
