Türkiye Summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador Over Black Sea Attacks on Turkish-Operated Vessels

Türkiye summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara after two attacks on Turkish-operated vessels in the Black Sea, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry saying the meeting took place on Saturday at the ministry.

“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”

Al Jazeera

The ministry said Türkiye warned about the “absolute need to ensure the safety of people, of assets, of navigation and of the environment in the Black Sea,” and it tied the diplomatic move to the strike on the Turkish-operated container ship “Lider Bordo Mavi” off Tuapse on Aug. 26.

Image: @globaltimesnews

Anadolu Ajansı reported that “Lider Kocatepe,” dispatched the following day to tow the struck vessel, was also targeted, and it said the Turkish side conveyed its reaction to the attacks during the meeting.

The Global Times account added that Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said the escalation of attacks threatens “the security of navigation and global food supplies,” linking the maritime incidents to broader regional risk.

Daily Sabah said the Lider Bordo Mavi was struck Aug. D26 near Tuapse, caught fire after being hit by three drones, and that five crew members were injured while the vessel flew the Cameroon flag and was operated by a Turkish company.

It also said the Lider Kocatepe was targeted by a drone the following day while en route to assist the damaged ship, sustaining material damage before returning to Samsun, and it noted there was no immediate public claim of responsibility from Ukraine for either attack.

Image: Acento

Kurdistan24 reported that the Turkish Foreign Ministry did not provide details on whether anyone was injured or killed in either incident, even as it said the damaged container ship was eventually towed to the Turkish Black Sea port of Samsun.

In a separate framing, the Global Times account said the Ukrainian ambassador was summoned after the strike on Lider Bordo Mavi on Aug. 26 and the subsequent targeting of Lider Kocatepe on Aug. 27, and it described Türkiye’s “necessary warnings” about safety and security in the Black Sea.

Türkiye’s warnings came as it positioned itself as a mediator while calling for a halt to attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, with Al Jazeera saying the issue carries heightened risk since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022 and that attacks there have escalated.

““They are attacking all commercial shipping without distinction.””

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for a halt to attacks in the Black Sea, saying, “They are attacking all commercial shipping without distinction,” and it added that Türkiye has sold US-made defence equipment to Ukraine while not applying Western sanctions on Russia.

El Debate said the Ukrainian ambassador to Ankara, Nariman Jalilov, was summoned this Saturday to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that Turkish authorities conveyed “the necessary warnings,” while Anadolu Ajansı and TRT World both described the Turkish side stressing safety of life, property, navigation and the environment.

The stakes for Ankara were also framed through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with Kurdistan24 saying Türkiye played a central role in the initiative that enabled Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain through the Black Sea despite the ongoing conflict, and it linked the latest diplomatic move to fears that repeated attacks on commercial shipping could threaten Türkiye’s economic interests.