Russian forces attacked two Ukrainian ports on Friday, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels, including a ship carrying food supplies.
Ukrainian officials condemned the strikes as indiscriminate, emphasizing the attacks lacked any military purpose.
The Russian strikes hit Chornomorsk and Odesa ports in Ukraine’s southwestern Odesa region on the Black Sea. Ukrainian navy sources confirmed three Turkish-owned vessels were damaged, though no further specifics were immediately released.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted footage of firefighters tackling a blaze on a civilian vessel in Chornomorsk. He said the attacks “had no … military purpose whatsoever” and accused Russia of targeting normal life in Ukraine rather than legitimate military objectives.
Turkish-owned vessels damaged
Cenk T Ship
The Panama-flagged, Turkish-owned vessel Cenk T was among the ships affected. Cenk Shipping confirmed the attack occurred around 4pm local time, with no crew casualties and limited damage to the ship.
Other Incidents
In Odesa, a cargo loader was damaged, and an employee of a private company sustained minor injuries. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said drones and ballistic missiles were used, targeting civilian logistics and commercial shipping.
Reactions from Turkey and Ukraine
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the attack on Cenk T and stated there were no Turkish casualties. The ministry warned the strikes highlight growing risks to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier, called for a limited ceasefire for energy facilities and ports to prevent further escalation. Turkey has also offered to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the attacks show Russia’s disregard for diplomacy and their intent to extend the war. He urged the international community to recognize the parties responsible for targeting civilian life and logistics.
Russia’s strikes come days after President Putin threatened to cut Ukraine off from the sea, in response to Kyiv’s maritime drone attacks on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of unmarked tankers.
Turkey, with the longest Black Sea coastline in the region, remains increasingly concerned about the spillover of hostilities into its maritime sphere, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to secure shipping routes.
