Türkiye raises alarm over attacks on Russia-linked tankers in Black Sea

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed Black Sea security on December 3, a source from Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said, following Ankara’s concern over attacks on Russia-linked tankers, some of which were claimed by Ukraine.

As a NATO member that has maintained relatively balanced relations with both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war, Türkiye condemned attacks on vessels connected to Moscow that occurred within its exclusive economic zone off the Turkish coast in the Black Sea.

The attacks have caused insurance rates for Black Sea shipping to rise and prompted Turkish company Besiktas Shipping to suspend operations involving Russia due to security concerns.

Ukraine, which has been targeting Russian oil exports while Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian power infrastructure, claimed responsibility for a seaborne drone attack on two empty tankers bound for a Russian port last week. Kyiv, however, denied involvement in a separate incident on December 2, when a Russian-flagged tanker carrying sunflower oil reported a drone strike off the Turkish coast. Outside the Black Sea, a Besiktas Shipping tanker engaged in Russian trade was damaged near Senegal by external impacts, with no one claiming responsibility.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry source, Fidan and Rutte met on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels to discuss Black Sea security and negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict, though no further details were provided.

Türkiye has called the attacks on shipping “unacceptable” and warned that “all parties” should halt such actions, with Turkish officials specifying that this includes the Ukrainian authorities. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to the sea, promising intensified strikes on Ukrainian facilities and vessels and taking action against tankers belonging to countries that assist Ukraine.

Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, chair of Türkiye’s Economic Development Foundation, described attacks on merchant ships in Türkiye’s exclusive economic zone as “a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine” during a forum in Istanbul on Wednesday, co-hosted by the Polish embassy and consulate.

Separately, President Tayyip Erdoğan told French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call that Türkiye is seeking to revive Ukraine-Russia ceasefire talks in Istanbul, according to an official readout from his office.

By Tamilla Hasanova