ALBAWABA - Several people were injured in a drone attack on two civilian ships in the Black Sea; Turkish authorities confirmed the Monday attack.
Turkish officials confirmed on Tuesday that a drone attack targeted two civilian vessels in the Black Sea, leading to the injury of crew members. Authorities decried the drone strike.
The foreign ministry identified the ships as Yasar and Nadezhda. They were sailing under the Panamanian and Cameroonian flags respectively, but they are both owned by Turkish companies.
The foreign ministry added the ships were targeted upon departing the Russian port of Novorossiysk late on Monday and several personnel were wounded.
It said in a statement: "The safety of our citizens is our top priority and their situation is being closely monitored."
"We are deeply concerned about the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, which is affecting civilian shipping despite our numerous warnings," the ministry continued in a statement on Tuesday.
The ministry further urged all parties to "urgently implement concrete measures to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea".
Previous reports said the Ro-Ro cargo ship NADHEZNA, carrying fruit and vegetables from the Turkish port of Samsun to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, was attacked about 30 nautical miles from its destination at around 4:30 p.m. local time.
Captain Yalçın Şahin said six or seven drones targeted the Ro-Ro vessel, causing a fire, but all crew members survived the attack; however, four sailors were on the ship were injured, including three Turkish nationals.
Ukraine has stepped up strikes on vessels it says support Russia's military logistics or energy exports, targeting Russian-flagged and Russia-bound ships in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, as well as conducting longer-range operations.
