Turkey summons Ukraine's ambassador after attacks on Turkish vessels in Black Sea

Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkiye has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara following two attacks on Turkish-operated vessels in the Black Sea.

Turkish officials communicated their concerns to Ambassador Naryman Dzhelialo at the ministry on Saturday, the AFP news agency reported.

“During the meeting, Turkiye warned about the absolute need to ensure the safety of people, of assets, of navigation and of the environment in the Black Sea,” the ministry said in a statement.

The meeting comes after the Turkish-operated container ship Lider Bordo Mavi was struck in the Black Sea on Wednesday, when it was off the coast of Tuapse, Russia.

The Lider Kocatepe was also targeted by a drone when on its way to assist the Lider Bordo Mavi the next day. Turkish media reported that the Lider Bordo Mavi was towed to the Turkish port of Samsun.

Turkiye has been calling for a halt to attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea as Ukraine and Russia continue to target each other’s export revenues. Navigating the sea has carried heightened risk ever since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022, but attacks there have escalated.

Several commercial Turkish ships have been hit by drones thought to have been launched by Ukraine. Three crew members were seriously injured when the Nadezhda cargo ship was hit by a drone near the Russian port of Novorossiysk earlier this month.

Turkiye maintains relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, and has positioned itself as a mediator between the two sides. It has not applied Western sanctions on Russia, and has sold US-made defence equipment to Ukraine. A free trade agreement between Turkiye and Ukraine was ratified by the Ukrainian government in July.

However, the issue of safety in the Black Sea is crucial for Turkiye, as its commercial vessels regularly transit the waterway.

Earlier this month, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for a halt to attacks in the Black Sea, saying, “They are attacking all commercial shipping without distinction.”