Ukraine and NATO on Monday launched the Sea Breeze 2011 military exercises in South Ukraine's Odessa and Nikolaev regions. Under the title, “planning and carrying out the international peacekeeping operations”, the 13-day drills involve around 2,400 navy personnel from 15 countries including Ukraine, the United States, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Britain, Algeria, Denmark, Georgia, Canada, Macedonia, Moldova, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey and France. International anti-piracy operations at sea and on shore will be a major part of the exercises. A total of 15 ships, boats and auxiliary vessels of the Ukrainian Navy, five boats from the State Border Service of Ukraine, two U.S. ships, four Turkish ships and one ship from Georgia will take part in the exercises.