Turkey urges halt to Russian, Ukrainian attacks on vessels in Black Sea

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on vessels in the Black Sea on August 8. Initially, ports and warships were targeted, but now all commercial vessels are being attacked indiscriminately. Fidan stated that a mechanism should be created to declare a moratorium. Ukraine had already proposed a similar measure, which Turkey passed on to Russia.

Recent weeks have seen increased strikes on foreign-flagged ships, including those operated in Turkey. Ukraine launched Operation Molochka on July 6 to target Russia’s shadow fleet, striking 218 Russian vessels, with 134 in the Sea of Azov and 84 in the Black Sea. Russia has retaliated by attacking civilian cargo ships near Odesa, targeting grain and fertilizer carriers, including Turkish-flagged and Turkish-owned ships.

A Turkish-flagged fishing vessel near occupied Crimea was hit, resulting in one death and four injuries. Ukrainian attacks have reached as far south as 50 miles off the coast of northern Turkey. Despite efforts to broker a ceasefire, none have succeeded. A ceasefire proposal was made in March 2025, but Russia only agreed after Western sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters were lifted.

Zelensky hinted that Ukrainian forces would continue striking Russian logistics following a 40-day influence operation aimed at crippling Russian tankers supplying occupied Crimea. Turkey, a NATO member with a close economic and political relationship with Russia, has mediated the conflict while providing arms to Ukraine.