Foreign ministry says closely monitoring crew injured in Black Sea drone attack

On June 22, Turkey's Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Turkish crew members were injured following a drone attack on a Turkish-owned cargo ship near Ukraine's Chornomorsk port in the Black Sea. The incident occurred when a drone struck the Panama-flagged vessel, which was en route from Istanbul to Romania. According to official statements, the attack resulted in significant damage to the ship, forcing Ukrainian naval forces to intervene and evacuate the remaining crew members.

The vessel, named VICTRESS, was carrying a total of nine crew members from Turkey, Egypt, and India. One of the crew members, an Egyptian national aged 58, lost his life in the attack. The remaining eight crew members were successfully evacuated by Ukrainian naval units due to the risk of the fire spreading further aboard the ship. Ukrainian officials noted that the ship sustained severe damage and is now deemed unseaworthy.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry emphasized its close monitoring of the injured crew members' conditions through its embassy in Kyiv and its consulate general in Odesa. The ministry also expressed concerns about the ongoing attacks in the Black Sea, which they believe pose threats to Turkish interests and regional stability. These concerns were communicated to both Russian and Ukrainian authorities, highlighting the need for measures to de-escalate tensions in the area.

The incident adds to a series of similar attacks on Turkish-owned or operated vessels in the Black Sea in recent months. This pattern of incidents has prompted Ankara to issue warnings against actions that could further escalate the situation in the region. The latest attack underscores the persistent dangers faced by commercial shipping in the Black Sea, where conflicts stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war continue to disrupt maritime traffic and raise alarms about the safety of civilian vessels.

The VICTRESS had departed from Kartal anchorage in Istanbul on June 19 and was heading towards the Romanian port of Sulina before the attack. Vessel-tracking data confirms this route, providing a clear timeline of the ship's journey prior to the incident. Ukrainian authorities attributed the attack to Russia, citing the ongoing risks posed by the conflict to civilian shipping in the Black Sea. They highlighted the necessity for international cooperation to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels in the region.

In response to these developments, Turkey reiterated its commitment to safeguarding civilian maritime navigation in the Black Sea. The country continues to advocate for diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions among all stakeholders involved in the region. As the situation unfolds, the focus will remain on the well-being of the affected crew members and the broader implications of such attacks on regional security and trade routes.