Turkish Ferry Hit in Russian Missile Strike Amid Growing Tensions in Black Sea

A Turkish-operated vessel was damaged by a Russian airstrike at a port in Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to statements from both Kyiv and the vessel’s operator on Friday.

The incident sparked renewed appeals from Ankara for a stop to attacks on port facilities, just hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the situation directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine’s Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba announced via Telegram that «Russia conducted a missile strike on civilian port infrastructure in the Odesa area,» noting that the Turkish ferry suffered damage but there were no injuries reported.

Cenk Shipping, the Turkish maritime company, confirmed in their statement that their vessel, which was completely loaded with fresh fruits, vegetables, and food supplies on the Karasu-Odesa route, was attacked from the air at 16:00 local time, shortly after arriving at Chornomorsk port.

Social media posts depicted the blue-and-white ferry engulfed in flames.

The ship is a 185-meter-long ferry operating under a Panama flag, as indicated in the information available on the company’s website.

Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that «a civilian vessel in Chornomorsk port sustained damage,» without specifying its name.

«This further demonstrates that the Russians are not only disregarding the current opportunities for diplomatic engagement but are also persisting in their conflict, aimed at undermining normal life in Ukraine,» he stated in a social media update.

The attack occurred amid Turkey’s recent warnings about a «concerning escalation» in the Black Sea region, following Ukraine’s claims of naval drone assaults on tankers linked to Russia.

During in-person discussions with Putin on Friday, Erdoğan advocated for a «limited ceasefire» regarding strikes on ports and energy facilities within the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In response to the airstrike, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the pressing need to urgently conclude the war between Russia and Ukraine, and reasserted the necessity for measures to prevent escalation in the Black Sea, which includes ensuring maritime safety and suspending attacks on energy and port infrastructure.