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Türkiye's Directorate of Communications Disinformation Combat Center (DMM) said footage circulating on social media showing a Turkish commercial vessel being struck in the Black Sea is from Dec. 13 and has no connection to any current event.
"The footage in question has been determined to have been recorded on Dec. 13, 2025, and has no connection whatsoever to today or any current event," the DMM said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement was issued after several social media accounts shared the footage as if it depicted a new incident of a Turkish-flagged commercial ship being attacked in the Black Sea.
The DMM emphasized that the claims contain disinformation, stating, "We kindly request that footage and content that has not been confirmed by official authorities, whose source is unclear, and which could mislead the public, not be shared."
The Black Sea has seen multiple incidents involving Turkish vessels in recent weeks amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Dec. 12 — Russian strike on Chornomorsk: A Russian air strike damaged a Turkish-owned ferry at Ukraine's Chornomorsk port in the Odesa region. Turkish maritime company Cenk Shipping said its 185-meter vessel, "loaded entirely with fresh fruits, vegetables and food supplies on the Karasu-Odesa route, was subjected to an air attack at 16:00 local time, shortly after docking."
Images showed the blue-and-white vessel on fire. No casualties were reported. The ship sailed under the Panama flag.
Last month, two empty oil tankers were hit by explosions off Türkiye's Black Sea coast, drawing harsh criticism from Ankara, which summoned envoys from both Russia and Ukraine and warned that Black Sea drone attacks amounted to a "worrying escalation."
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