Türkiye's Foreign Ministry has called on Ukraine and Russia to take urgent steps to guarantee safe navigation in the Black Sea after two Turkish civilian vessels were attacked by drones, warning that further escalation could threaten global food security.
"If preventive measures are not taken, escalation in the Black Sea will have multifaceted negative consequences, particularly for food security. We reiterate our call on all relevant parties, especially the warring sides, to urgently take concrete steps to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea," the ministry said in a statement posted on X.
According to the ministry, the Turkish civilian vessels Yashar and Nadiya came under drone attack on the evening of August 3 after departing the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Several crew members, including Turkish nationals, were injured.
"We are deeply concerned that the war between Russia and Ukraine is spreading further into the Black Sea and affecting civilian vessels despite all our previous warnings. The safety of our citizens is our highest priority, and we are closely monitoring their condition," the ministry said.
