A few days after an incident with a British warship in the Black Sea, an international maneuver begins there on Monday - despite fierce criticism from Russia.

Thousands of soldiers and dozens of ships and aircraft from a total of 32 countries will take part in the “Sea Breeze” military exercise, which is being led by the United States and Ukraine. The American military announced that the maneuver should take about two weeks.

According to the US Navy, this year’s exercise in the Black Sea, which has been held regularly since 1997, is the largest of its kind to date. Moscow sees this as a provocation in front of its own territory and therefore urged Washington to forego it.

The exercise “Lake Breeze” with 32 ships in the Black Sea is being led by the USA and Ukraine.