Russian forces attacked two Ukrainian ports on Friday, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels, including a ship carrying food supplies. The strikes hit Chornomorsk and Odesa ports in Ukraine’s southwestern Odesa region on the Black Sea. Ukrainian officials condemned the attacks as indiscriminate and lacking any military purpose.
Among the affected ships was the Panama-flagged, Turkish-owned vessel Cenk T. Cenk Shipping confirmed the attack occurred around 4pm local time. Fortunately, there were no crew casualties, and the vessel suffered limited damage. Ukrainian authorities are still assessing the full impact on port operations.
In Odesa, a cargo loader was damaged, and one private company employee sustained minor injuries. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said drones and ballistic missiles were used. The attacks targeted civilian logistics and commercial shipping, rather than military facilities.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted footage of firefighters tackling a blaze on a civilian vessel in Chornomorsk. He stated that the strikes “had no … military purpose whatsoever” and accused Russia of targeting normal life instead of legitimate military objectives.
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the damage to Cenk T. The ministry emphasized that there were no Turkish casualties and warned of rising maritime risks. They stressed that freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is under growing threat due to continued hostilities.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Erdogan called for a limited ceasefire for energy facilities and ports. Turkey also offered to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow to prevent further escalation.
Russia’s strikes come days after President Putin threatened to cut Ukraine off from the sea. Zelenskyy said the attacks show Russia’s disregard for diplomacy and its intent to prolong the war. Turkey remains concerned about the spillover into its maritime sphere and urges international cooperation to secure shipping routes.