Türkiye reacts to Russian drone strike on its merchant vessel in Black Sea

Türkiye has reacted to a Russian drone strike involving a merchant vessel near the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, after it was attacked on 22 June. Türkiye said it raised concerns with both Russia and Ukraine following the incident, which involved a ship owned by a Turkish company and sailing under a Panamanian flag. The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Turkish crew members were injured. The Turkish embassy in Kyiv and the consulate general in Odesa are monitoring the situation involving affected citizens. Türkiye also reiterated that safeguarding civilian navigation in the Black Sea is a priority and urged relevant parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions amid the broader Russia-Ukraine war. The case follows Ukrainian reports that multiple civilian vessels were hit on the same date.