Ukrainian Navy Accuses Russia of Targeting Turkish Cargo Ship in Escalating Black Sea Tensions

On Saturday, Ukraine accused Russia of attacking a Turkish vessel, the ‘VIVA’, which was carrying sunflower oil in the Black Sea. This incident followed a Russian strike that caused a fire on another Turkish-owned ship docked at a Ukrainian port just a day earlier.

According to the Ukrainian navy, «Russia conducted a deliberate drone strike against the Turkish ship ‘VIVA’, which was en route to Egypt with a cargo of sunflower oil.» Fortunately, all 11 crew members aboard were unharmed, and the vessel managed to continue its journey.

The navy also shared a video that displayed the damaged ship, showing water on the deck along with what appeared to be a drone engine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the attack, pledging that there would be a «response.» He characterized the assault as an attack on food security, asserting that «hitting ships unrelated to the conflict is a blatant provocation from Russia directed at the entire international community.»

«We will collaborate with our allies to decide on an appropriate response. There will be consequences,» he emphasized.

The ‘VIVA’ was operating within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone, navigating a grain corridor along the coast designed to ensure safe passage for critical agricultural exports in the Black Sea.

This incident marks the second attack on a Turkish ship within two days and follows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s appeal for an end to assaults on ports and energy infrastructure during his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.