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Türkiye on Friday expressed deep concern after a foreign-flagged vessel operated by a Turkish company was damaged in a Russian airstrike on Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, just hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of maritime security directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“This incident points to the validity of our previously recorded concerns regarding maritime security and freedom of navigation, as the war in our region continues to spread across the Black Sea,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement came after a ballistic missile and drone attack by Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, triggering explosions in several areas, including Chornomorsk, according to Ukrainian media and officials.
Turkish shipping firm Cenk Group confirmed that one of its vessels, a 185-meter ferry flying the Panama flag, was hit at 4 p.m. local time on Friday after docking at Chornomorsk. The vessel had been carrying fresh fruits, vegetables, and food supplies from Karasu, Türkiye, the company said.
Visuals shared on social media showed the ship engulfed in flames. According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, no Turkish citizens were harmed, and the crew and truck drivers on board were safely evacuated. Türkiye’s Consulate General in Odesa is closely monitoring the situation and providing assistance to affected citizens, it added.
Ukraine’s Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed the strike, saying, “Russia launched a missile strike on civilian port infrastructure in the Odesa region.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also condemned the attack, stating that a civilian vessel was damaged at the port and that Russia continues its war “aimed precisely at destroying normal life in Ukraine.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated the need for a framework to halt attacks on maritime infrastructure and safeguard energy and port facilities in the region.
“On this occasion, we once again emphasize the importance of bringing the war between Russia and Ukraine to an immediate end,” the ministry said, calling for an end to attacks jeopardizing navigation safety and port infrastructure.
The incident came amid growing Turkish concerns over spillover from the conflict, especially after Ukraine targeted Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea in recent months using naval drones. Ankara had earlier warned of a “worrying escalation” in the region.
The strike occurred shortly after President Erdogan raised the issue of a "limited ceasefire" focused on port and energy infrastructure during a face-to-face meeting with President Putin in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
According to the Turkish Presidency and Kremlin readouts, the leaders discussed bilateral ties, the Russia–Ukraine war, and regional developments, including the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project.
Erdogan reiterated Türkiye’s offer to host peace talks and emphasized that efforts toward “a just and lasting peace” should begin with practical steps such as halting attacks on ports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow welcomed Erdogan’s offer to mediate and noted that Türkiye’s continued role as an intermediary was “welcomed by our country.”
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