Shahed drone Photo: social media / WillWest News / Profimedia
Ukraine's navy accused Russia of deliberately targeting a Turkish civilian ship carrying sunflower oil to Egypt with a drone on Saturday, a day after Moscow struck two Ukrainian ports, Reuters reports.
In a statement on Telegram, the Ukrainian navy said it was the “Viva” ship, which had 11 Turkish citizens on board. According to the Ukrainians, no one was injured and the vessel continued its journey to Egypt.
“The attack was carried out offshore, in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone, outside the range of Ukrainian air defense systems,” the Ukrainian navy said, accusing Russia of violating maritime laws.
The Ukrainian navy said it was in contact with the ship's captain.
Russian forces had damaged three Turkish-owned ships on Friday
Russia attacked two Ukrainian ports on Friday and damaged three Turkish-owned ships, including a vessel carrying food supplies, Ukrainian officials and a boat owner said, days after Moscow threatened to cut Ukraine off from the sea.
“The Black Sea should not be seen as a battleground. Such a situation would only harm Russia and Ukraine,” Erdogan said in remarks released by his office on Saturday, a day after the meeting between the Turkish leader and his Russian counterpart.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin met in Turkmenistan on Friday, where the two presidents assessed “comprehensive peace efforts” to end the war in Ukraine, according to a statement issued after the meeting by the Turkish side, which reiterated Ankara's readiness to support peace efforts.
