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Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara rejected as "false and misleading" a comment attributed to Robert Brovdi, the Unmanned Systems Forces commander known as "Magyar", mocking the death of Turkish seafarer Savas Cakar, saying the Ukrainian commander's name was used to fabricate the post that sparked outrage.
Cakar, 54, was killed in a drone strike on the Turkish-flagged cargo ship Reyhan Sari off Novorossiysk last month, an attack no party has claimed, and the comment circulating in Turkish media had been read as a Ukrainian military figure celebrating his death, according to the ambassador.
"The information circulating in Türkiye's media landscape regarding an alleged comment by Robert Brovdi ('Magyar'), Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in connection with the death of Turkish seafarer Savas Cakar, is false and misleading," Ambassador Nariman Dzhelyalov said in an exclusive statement to Türkiye Today.
"Robert Brovdi did not make or leave such a comment. Nor did any member of his team publish or send such a message on his behalf. The comment in question was neither sent nor published from Robert Brovdi's email address," Dzhelyalov added.
"The name of the Ukrainian commander was used to create the false impression that he was involved in this publication. Attributing such statements to him is a deliberate manipulation and dissemination of false information," he noted.
The embassy also offered condolences to Cakar’s family.
“We express our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased Turkish citizen Savas Cakar,” the statement said. “Every civilian death is a tragedy, regardless of nationality.”
Dzhelyalov said Ukraine provides mariners with advance public notice of risks linked to hostilities in the Black Sea.
“Official NAVTEX navigational warnings identify areas of heightened danger, as well as areas where navigation is restricted or prohibited due to security risks arising from the ongoing hostilities,” he said.
“Relevant information, including the coordinates of such areas, is communicated to the maritime community,” he added.
The ambassador said Ukraine has no interest in expanding the geographical scope of the war or creating risks for citizens of third countries or international civilian shipping.
“Our goal is to end Russian aggression and achieve a just and lasting peace, in which the Black Sea can once again be a space for safe navigation, trade, and cooperation rather than an area of military risk,” he said.
Dzhelyalov said the source of current security risks in the Black Sea should be clearly understood.
“It is Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which continues despite numerous international efforts aimed at bringing it to an end,” he claimed.
“Through its statements and actions, Russia continues to demonstrate its unwillingness to end its aggression and attacks against Ukraine,” he added.
He said Ukraine was compelled to defend its territory, people and critical infrastructure.
“For Ukraine, this is not a matter of choice, it is both our right and our necessity to defend our country and the lives of our citizens,” Dzhelyalov said.
“Ukraine’s actions in the Black Sea are aimed primarily at defending against Russian aggression and reducing Russia’s capacity to continue its war,” he added.
He called on civilian vessel crews and operators to strictly observe navigational warnings, assess security risks properly and avoid areas where navigation is restricted or prohibited.
“The Russian Federation uses various economic and logistical mechanisms to generate revenues that help finance its aggression, including through the involvement of foreign companies,” Dzhelyalov claimed.
He said Ukraine was working to counter attempts to circumvent international sanctions, as well as the illegal removal and exploitation of Ukrainian resources from territories "temporarily occupied" by Russia.
Cakar died in the engine room of the Reyhan Sari when the ship, carrying coal from Russia's Taman Port to Trabzon, was hit by two successive drone strikes off Novorossiysk on July 22.
Two crewmates were wounded and evacuated to Samsun.
No party has claimed or been assigned responsibility for the attack, though it occurred in Russian-side waters where Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, commanded by Brovdi, have claimed a broad campaign against Russia-linked shipping, reporting dozens of vessels struck in the Black and Azov Seas under Operation MoLoChKa.
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