Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over recent attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea.
In a statement released Sunday, November 30, ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said the attacks on the Gambia-flagged tankers Kairos and Virat posed a threat to maritime security in the region.
“These incidents, which occurred within our exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, have created serious risks to the safety of navigation, life, property and the environment in the region,” Keçeli said.
Ukraine, which has claimed responsibility for the strikes, is not directly condemned in the statement.
Turkey is “in contact with relevant parties” to “prevent the spread of the war” in the Black Sea and “avoid negative impacts on the country’s economic interests” in the region, the spokesperson added.
The tankers Kairos and Virat, part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” were attacked on the evening of November 28 while at sea off Turkey’s coast.
Ukrainian media sources said they were hit by Sea Baby naval drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
The attack occurred as the tankers, sailing without cargo, were headed to the port of Novorossiysk.
Both tankers are under Western sanctions due to their role in transporting Russian oil.
