Black Sea maritime security risks rise amid vessel attacks and drone increase

Security concerns are escalating in the Black Sea as maritime warfare intensifies. AKP Deputy Chairman and Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik reported that 43 Turkish-operated vessels have been targeted, with 8 hits attributed to Russia and 35 to Ukraine. Çelik called for an end to the cycle of attacks and urged both Kyiv and Moscow to establish a peace table in Istanbul.

Simultaneously, maritime security firm Ambrey reported a significant increase in war-related objects in the Black Sea. Between March and August, 56 such objects—including drones and unexploded munitions—were detected, doubling the 27 recorded in the previous six-month period. Experts noted that at least one-third of these objects carry live ammunition. The increase in detected debris is attributed to systems being downed by electronic warfare or combat, causing them to fall into the water. This trend is particularly concentrated near the territorial waters of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria, posing a heightened risk to fixed energy infrastructure and maritime crews.