KIEV - Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Monday launched the Sea Breeze 2011 military exercises in South Ukraine's Odessa and Nikolaev regions.

Naval, land and air exercises under the title "Planning and carrying out the international peacekeeping operations" will be held till June 18. International anti-piracy operations at sea and on shore will be a major part of the exercises.

The drills will 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.

Ukraine's Air Forces, Military Service Law Enforcement of the Armed Forces, State Border Service, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergencies will take part in these exercises.

A total of 15 ships, boats and auxiliary vessels of the Ukrainian Navy, five boats from the State Border Service of Ukraine, two US ships, four Turkish ships and one ship from Georgia will take part in the exercises.

The military exercises have been conducted in Ukraine annually since 1997 except 2006 and 2007 when they were canceled due to anti-NATO protests in Ukraine.