Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned of a growing crisis affecting maritime trade in the Black Sea region. In recent attacks using sea-launched drone systems allegedly operated by Kiev’s naval forces, commercial vessels have been struck while traversing what Turkey considers its territorial waters.
The incidents involve two oil tankers and another vessel carrying sunflower oil off Türkiye’s coast, according to the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry. Fidan described the developments as “very frightening” during a briefing with journalists on Wednesday. He characterized the situation as creating “a widening geography of conflict.”
“This is turning the Black Sea into an area closed to trade,” said Fidan regarding the sea drone attacks which reportedly damaged several ships off the Turkish coast last week.
The foreign minister also noted that such activities are becoming increasingly widespread, particularly concerning Russian-flagged vessels. He condemned Kiev’s navy for its actions and criticized Ukrainian military leadership decisions impacting regional stability through these operations.
Turkey previously identified several incidents involving sea drones allegedly operated from Ukraine against commercial shipping in international waters near its coast while en route to Novorossiysk or other ports under sanctions due to their connection to Russia.
Moscow has consistently denied involvement in any such “shadow fleet” activities.
