The Turkish government condemned the attacks by Ukrainian drones on two oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea near the Bosphorus on Friday, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoncu Keçeli said that the attacks on the vessels "Kairos" and "Virat" were carried out within Turkey's exclusive economic zone and "created serious risks to shipping, life, property and environmental safety in the region."
In a post on social media late last night, Keçeli added that Turkey was holding talks with "interested parties" to prevent the war in Ukraine from spreading to the Black Sea and to protect Turkey's economic interests.
Ukraine said it used naval drones to attack the two tankers off Turkey's Black Sea coast on Friday evening. The crews of both vessels are reportedly safe.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the tankers were empty and were traveling to the port of Novorossiysk, a major Russian oil terminal.
The OpenSanctions database, which tracks individuals and organizations involved in sanctions evasion, describes the vessels as part of the so-called "shadow fleet" - ships used to evade sanctions imposed on Russia after its 2012 invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has carried out successful naval strikes against Russian ships during the war, usually using explosive-laden sea-based drones. However, Ukraine's previous missions have generally been limited to waters in the northern Black Sea, the AP notes.