Turkiye summons Ukraine ambassador over Black Sea attacks

What the report says

Turkiye has summoned Ukraine’s ambassador in Ankara after two Turkish-operated vessels were attacked in the Black Sea, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing Turkish officials and AFP. The Foreign Ministry said it conveyed concern to Ambassador Naryman Dzhelialo and stressed the need to protect people, property, navigation and the environment in the waterway.

The diplomatic move follows incidents this week involving the Turkish-operated container ship Lider Bordo Mavi, which was struck on Wednesday near Tuapse, Russia, and the Lider Kocatepe, which was reportedly hit by a drone the next day while heading to assist the first ship. Turkish media reported that the Lider Bordo Mavi was later towed to Samsun in Turkiye.

Al Jazeera reported that Turkiye has been urging an end to attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to disrupt trade routes and export flows. The article said several commercial Turkish ships have recently been hit, including the Nadezhda cargo ship, whose crew members were seriously injured earlier this month near Novorossiysk.

The case highlights Turkiye’s effort to balance ties with both Kyiv and Moscow while protecting its maritime interests. The report also noted that Turkiye continues to act as a mediator in the conflict and that Black Sea safety remains a major concern for the country because of its reliance on commercial transit through the area.