A new international Ukrainian-British military exercise, Cossack Mace 2021, has begun at the the Joint Training Center in Mykolayiv oblast on July 12, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The exercise will run from July 12-24.
The drills will involve about 2,000 military personnel and more than 300 pieces of military equipment from five countries, including Ukraine, Great Britain, Canada, U.S., and Sweden. This is the first joint exercise in Ukraine to include all five countries, Liga.net reported, citing the General Staff of the armed forces.
The training scenario will entail repelling a simulated large-scale offensive. The joint forces will defend and counterattack to reclaim territory seized by a hostile neighbor.
It will be an opportunity to improve the Ukrainian military, demonstrate support in the face of Russia’s aggression and strengthen the interoperability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO armies, according to the General Staff.
The exercise can be followed live on the page of the Ukraine Ground Forces command website.
Cossack Mace 2021 is one of several international drills taking place in Ukraine this month. On July 17-30, large-scale ground exercises called Three Swords-2021 will be held in Ukraine for the first time and include personnel from Poland, Lithuania, the U.S. and Ukraine.
Earlier, from June 28 -July 10, the annual Sea Breeze 2021 exercise took place in the Black Sea with the participation of Ukraine, NATO countries and other international partners.
The Russian government criticized this drill, saying it raises tensions in the region, in spite of ordering a massive buildup of troops on the Ukrainian border in the spring.
