Türkiye has formally summoned senior diplomats from Russia and Ukraine following a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, including incidents within its exclusive economic zone.
The move, announced on 4 December, underscores Ankara’s growing alarm over the war’s expansion into maritime routes critical for trade and energy supplies.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ukraine’s ambassador Nariman Celal and Russia’s chargé d’affaires Aleksei Ivanov were called in to receive Ankara’s protest.
Deputy Foreign Minister Berris Ekinci told parliament’s foreign affairs commission that “we are witnessing a very serious escalation in recent weeks in the Russia-Ukraine war, with reciprocal attacks. And lastly, there were certain attacks in the Black Sea within our exclusive economic zone as well.”
The latest incident involved the tanker Midvolga 2, sailing from Russia to Georgia, which reported being struck by drones approximately 80 nautical miles off Türkiye’s coast.
The vessel, carrying sunflower oil, managed to continue under its own power, and all 13 crew members were unharmed.
Days earlier, two other tankers linked to Russia were hit near Turkish waters, with Ukrainian sources claiming responsibility for targeting vessels allegedly transporting Russian oil.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the attacks, describing them as “unacceptable” and warning that they directly endanger maritime security.
“The war between Russia and Ukraine has clearly begun to threaten navigational safety in the Black Sea. The targeting of vessels in our Exclusive Economic Zone signals a worrying escalation,” he said.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan echoed these concerns, calling the strikes “very scary” and stressing that they violate navigational safety while disrupting commerce.
He revealed that Türkiye is coordinating with Romania and Bulgaria, as well as NATO, to explore additional security measures.
Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar added that Ankara has urged both Moscow and Kyiv to keep energy infrastructure out of the conflict, warning that disruptions could destabilise global markets.
“We tell all the parties, in Russia and Ukraine: keep the energy infrastructures out of this war, because this is very much linked to people’s daily lives,” he said.
The attacks have already had economic repercussions, with war-risk insurance premiums for ships entering the Black Sea spiking sharply. Shipping companies are reassessing operations, and some Turkish firms have suspended Russia-related voyages.
Ankara insists it will continue engaging both sides to prevent the war from spreading across the Black Sea. Officials emphasise that Türkiye’s priority is safeguarding navigation, protecting its economic interests, and ensuring the region does not become closed to trade.
Sources: TRT World, Türkiye Today, Asharq Al-Awsat
