Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out a drone strike on a Turkish vessel transporting sunflower oil in the Black Sea, barely a day after a separate Russian attack caused a fire on another Turkish-owned ship at a Ukrainian port.
Ukraine’s Navy disclosed on Saturday that the Turkish vessel, VIVA, was hit by what it described as a targeted drone attack while en route to Egypt.
“Russia delivered a targeted strike using a drone against the Turkish vessel ‘VIVA’, which was sailing to Egypt with a cargo of sunflower oil,” the navy said in a statement posted on social media.
According to the navy, none of the 11 crew members aboard the ship was injured, and the vessel was able to continue its voyage after the incident.
The navy also released a video footage showing visible damage to the ship, including water on the deck and what appeared to be parts of a drone engine.
Reacting to the development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, describing it as a threat to global food security.
“It was a strike against food security,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
He argued that attacking civilian ships carrying agricultural products, which he said had no connection to the war, amounted to “a direct challenge by Russia to the whole world.”
Zelensky added that Ukraine would consult with its international partners to determine an appropriate response.
“We will work with our partners to determine how to respond to this. There will be a response,” he said.
Reports indicated that the ship was sailing within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone, using a designated grain corridor that runs close to Ukraine’s coastline and is meant to ensure safe passage for critical agricultural exports through the Black Sea.
The latest incident marked the second reported attack on a Turkish vessel within two days.
It also came shortly after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to attacks on ports and energy infrastructure during face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.