A Turkish-owned cargo ship was struck by a drone in the Black Sea after leaving a Ukrainian port, in the latest incident to raise concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region. No information has been released on casualties or the extent of the damage.
Turkish maritime sources said on Thursday that the vessel was hit after departing the Port of Chornomorsk on Ukraine's Black Sea coast.
The incident came hours after the Russian Defence Ministry said it had struck a cargo vessel in the Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi and two other ships off the coast of Odesa during military operations targeting what Moscow described as Ukrainian military infrastructure.
It was not immediately clear whether the attack on the Turkish-owned vessel was connected to the strikes reported by Russia, and there has been no independent confirmation of either incident.
The reported attack nevertheless highlights the growing risks facing commercial shipping in the Black Sea, despite increased efforts by regional governments to protect vital maritime trade routes.
Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in early 2022, merchant vessels have increasingly been caught in the crossfire as both sides have used missiles, drones and naval weapons in and around Ukrainian seaports.
According to maritime industry data, 11 Turkish or Turkish-linked commercial vessels have been damaged by drones, missiles or other munitions since the conflict began.
Last week, a Turkish merchant sailor was killed in a similar incident in the Black Sea, for which both Russia and Ukraine denied responsibility.
The repeated attacks have heightened concerns that the conflict could further threaten one of the world's most important shipping corridors, which is critical for grain exports, energy shipments and wider international trade.
Türkiye, which controls access to the Black Sea through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits under the 1936 Montreux Convention, has maintained relations with both Kyiv and Moscow while urging restraint and supporting efforts to keep maritime trade routes open.
The latest incident is likely to prompt renewed calls from the shipping industry for stronger safeguards to protect civilian vessels operating in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul s...
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deep...
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul seeks Belarusian machinery and support to develop domestic manufacturing.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deepen economic and industrial ties.
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces struck the site on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israel will not accept Turkish forces expanding their presence further south.
Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine could provide a model for neighbouring countries seeking to strengthen their sovereignty, the director of development at an organisation supporting Ukraine’s armed forces has told AnewZ.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment