Türkiye expresses concern after Ukraine’s attacks on Russian tankers in Black Sea

ANKARA

Türkiye has expressed concerns that the attacks on two commercial tankers — claimed by Ukraine — in the Black Sea pose serious risks to the safety of navigation and can further escalate regional tension amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.

“We view with concern the attacks carried out yesterday [Nov. 28] against the Gambian-flagged commercial tankers ‘KAIROS’ and ‘VIRAT’ in the Black Sea,” Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli, said in a statement in response to a question regarding the attacks on Nov. 29.

“These incidents, which occurred within Türkiye’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea, have posed serious risks to the safety of navigation, life, property and the environment in the region,” Keçeli stated.

The attacks were first reported by the Turkish Transportation Ministry on Nov. 28. In a statement, the ministry said two empty oil tankers, the Vırat and the Kairos, had reported explosions but sustained no casualties, saying they had been struck in Turkish waters but without saying what had caused the blasts. The attacks were later claimed by Ukraine.

"Modernized Sea Baby naval drones successfully targeted the vessels," a source in Ukraine's SBU security service told AFP. It shared a video that purported to show sea drones gliding towards the two ships, before sparking explosions.

Another attack on Vırat took place early on Nov. 29, the Turkish Transportation Ministry announced through its social media.

"The Vırat, which was previously said to have been attacked by unmanned maritime vehicles approximately 35 nautical miles off the Black Sea coastline, was attacked again by unmanned maritime vehicles early this morning," said the ministry.

It said the tanker sustained only "minor damage" on the starboard side and that none of the 20-strong crew were hurt.

Türkiye said the Kairos was en route to the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, where a major Russian oil terminal halted operations early on Saturday after being hit by a naval drone attack, the consortium that owns the terminal said.

The terminal, part of which sustained "significant damage", is a major conduit for Kazakh oil, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) said, without saying who was responsible for the attack.

Türkiye in contact with relevant parties

Following the attacks, Ankara established contacts with both Ukraine and Russia.

“We are maintaining our contacts with the relevant parties to prevent the spread and further escalation of the war across the Black Sea and to avoid any negative impact on Türkiye’s economic interests and activities in the region,” Keçeli stated in his statement.

Türkiye has always been very keen on keeping navigation safety in the Black Sea since the war started in 2022. It shut down the Turkish straits to the passage of military vessels in line with the Montreux Convention and has been in close dialogue with all littoral countries.  

It also urged both warring countries not to spread the war to the Black Sea.