Recent drone attacks targeting oil tankers in the Black Sea have prompted concern from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting the escalating risks to maritime traffic and regional stability amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The attacks, reportedly claimed by Ukraine and targeting vessels believed to be circumventing Western sanctions on Russian oil, occurred near Turkish waters on November 28 and 29 . Ankara has warned that such actions threaten safety, the environment, and life within its exclusive economic zone, further complicating the geopolitical landscape as efforts continue to negotiate a resolution to the war.
Jakarta –
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced concern over recent drone attacks targeting oil tankers bound for Russia in the Black Sea, near Turkish waters. The attacks, claimed by Ukraine, represent a worrying escalation of the ongoing conflict, Erdogan stated.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Transport, the vessels Virat and Kairos were struck by explosions off the Turkish coast on the evening of November 28. The Virat was reportedly attacked again in the early hours of November 29.
A Ukrainian security source told AFP that the ships were secretly transporting Russian oil, circumventing Western sanctions imposed following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. This incident highlights the increasingly complex efforts to enforce sanctions and the risks to maritime traffic in the region.
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“We cannot accept these attacks, which threaten the safety of navigation, the environment, and life in our exclusive economic zone,” Erdogan said, addressing the situation.
“The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has clearly reached a stage that threatens the safety of navigation in the Black Sea,” he added.
Erdogan’s criticism comes as Ukraine faces mounting military and political pressure, and as U.S.-led negotiators intensify efforts to bring the conflict to an end. The development underscores the growing challenges to regional stability and the potential for wider repercussions.
“We have issued the necessary warnings to the parties concerned. We are also closely monitoring developments with the aim of ending the conflict and are ready to contribute at every opportunity,” the Turkish leader stated.
Both the Kairos and Virat, flagged in Gambia, are reportedly subject to Western sanctions as part of what has been described as a “shadow fleet” used by Russia to bypass oil export restrictions.
Throughout the war, Turkey has sought to maintain relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv, offering itself as a neutral venue for negotiations. Turkey also controls the Bosphorus Strait, a crucial waterway for transporting Ukrainian grain and Russian oil to the Mediterranean Sea.
(rfs/rfs)
