The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a formal warning that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is increasingly spilling into the Black Sea, posing a direct threat to civilian maritime activities. This alert follows a recent incident on Monday evening in which two Turkish-owned civilian vessels, the Yasar and the Nadezhda, were struck by unmanned aerial vehicles after departing from the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
According to the Turkish government, the attack resulted in injuries to a group of personnel, including Turkish nationals. Ankara emphasized that the safety of its citizens is its top priority and confirmed that authorities are actively monitoring the medical condition of those affected. While the identity of the party responsible for the strikes remains unclear, the incident has highlighted the growing dangers facing commercial shipping in the region.
Reports from the Turkish maritime authority indicate that the cargo vessel Nadezhda was roughly 20 nautical miles off the coast of Novorossiysk when it was hit while en route to the northern Turkish port of Samsun. Operators of the vessel confirmed that all 22 crew members were successfully evacuated to Russia, though three individuals sustained serious injuries. A fire was reported to be burning in the bow of the ship following the impact.
Expressing "serious concern" regarding the situation, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the conflict is affecting civilian vessels despite repeated warnings issued by Ankara. Officials cautioned that without immediate preventive measures, the escalation in the Black Sea will lead to multidimensional adverse consequences, specifically noting the potential impact on global food security. The ministry reiterated an urgent appeal to all involved parties to implement concrete steps to safeguard commercial navigation in the strategically vital waterway.
