ISTANBUL: The Turkish government has condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Black Sea.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the attacks on the Kairos and Virat vessels happened inside Turkiye’s exclusive economic zone and “have posed serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region.”
In a social media post late Saturday, Keceli added that Turkiye is carrying out talks with “the relevant parties” to prevent the spread of the war in Ukraine across the Black Sea and to protect Turkiye’s economic interests.
Ukraine has said it used naval drones to hit the tankers in quick succession off Turkiye’s Black Sea coast late Friday afternoon. Crew members on board both vessels were reported to be safe.
The OpenSanctions database, which tracks people or organizations involved in sanctions evasion, describes the vessels as part of a fleet of ships used to evade sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has carried out successful naval strikes against Russian shipping during the war, particularly using explosives-packed marine drones. However, Ukrainian missions have previously largely been limited to the waters of the northern Black Sea.
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Turkiye condemns Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers off Black Sea coast
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Turkiye condemns Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers off Black Sea coast
- Attacks on the Kairos and Virat vessels happened inside Turkiye’s exclusive economic zone
- Attacks ‘posed serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region’
Ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait attacked by suspected pirates, officials say
- The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center says the incident Friday saw a ship chased by smaller vessels that opened fire on it
- The private security firm Diaplous Group says the vessel twice came under attack and armed guards aboard opened fire in response
DUBAI: A ship traveling Friday through the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait came under attack by suspected pirates, officials said.
The incident saw a ship chased by smaller vessels that opened fire on it, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.
The private security firm Diaplous Group said the vessel twice came under attack and armed guards aboard it opened fire in response. It said the crew was safe and described the ship as a bulk carrier.
The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, separating the African continent from the Arabian Peninsula.
The area had seen attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the Israel-Hamas war, as well as a rise in piracy from Somalia as well. The Houthis have halted their attacks, however, as an uneasy ceasefire holds in the Gaza Strip.
The incident saw a ship chased by smaller vessels that opened fire on it, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.
The private security firm Diaplous Group said the vessel twice came under attack and armed guards aboard it opened fire in response. It said the crew was safe and described the ship as a bulk carrier.
The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, separating the African continent from the Arabian Peninsula.
The area had seen attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over the Israel-Hamas war, as well as a rise in piracy from Somalia as well. The Houthis have halted their attacks, however, as an uneasy ceasefire holds in the Gaza Strip.
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