ISTANBUL: The Turkish navy intercepted a marine drone in the Black Sea near Istanbul, authorities said, raising concerns after reports indicated it may have contained explosives and might be Ukrainian.
The unmanned craft, measuring three meters in length and one meter in width, was apprehended by the Turkish navy teams, as confirmed by the Istanbul police authority in a statement. The drone was reportedly believed to have originated from the northern Black Sea region.
“The public prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into the incident,” the statement added.
Turkish media outlet NTV reported that the intercepted drone was found to contain explosives, allegedly associated with Ukraine. However, Turkish authorities have not officially confirmed the presence of explosives or determined the exact origins of the drone.
Nevertheless, a distinctive yellow-and-green emblem, identified as belonging to the Ukrainian petrol station chain OKKO, was prominently displayed on the front of the craft. OKKO is known for its support of the Ukrainian military through donations.
The discovery comes amidst ongoing tensions and security concerns in the Black Sea region since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. During this period, several sea mines suspected to have originated from the conflict have been detected off the Turkish coastline.
In January, NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania signed an agreement aimed at addressing the threat of sea mines in the Black Sea during the Ukraine crisis.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led both sides to deploy sea mines to safeguard their respective coastlines. Incidents involving these mines have posed risks to maritime traffic and complicated Ukraine’s efforts to navigate through a Russian naval blockade.
Recently, in a separate incident at the end of December, a cargo ship flying the Panama flag collided with a Russian mine in the Black Sea while en route to a Ukrainian port. The incident resulted in injuries to two sailors, according to Ukrainian authorities.
