Russian Strikes Hit Turkish-Owned Ships At Ukrainian Ports, Including Chornomorsk And Odesa

Russian forces struck three Turkish-owned vessels at Ukrainian ports-Chornomorsk and Odesa-on December 12, 2025, while another Turkish civilian ship, VIVA, was hit by a drone as it transported sunflower oil to Egypt via the Black Sea grain corridor. The CENK T, a Panama-flagged roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel owned by Turkey's Cenk Shipping, caught fire after being struck by a Shahed drone in Chornomorsk at around 4 pm local time. Crew members reported no injuries and said the damage was limited. The incidents followed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers, marking a further escalation in tit-for-tat attacks targeting commercial shipping.

Context and Escalation

The strikes took place just hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkmenistan, where Erdogan called for de-escalation and proposed a limited ceasefire covering ports and energy infrastructure. While there is no confirmed evidence of a fourth vessel being hit in international waters, reports indicate that four Turkish-linked ships were affected between December 12 and 13. Russia has described the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on its so-called "shadow fleet" and has warned of measures aimed at cutting Ukraine off from the sea.

Economic and Strategic Impacts

The developments have heightened concerns over the Black Sea grain corridor, a critical route for global food exports, which now faces the risk of paralysis amid direct state attacks on commercial shipping-an escalation described as unprecedented since 1945.

Turkish officials have urged the creation of arrangements to safeguard maritime navigation, while avoiding any reference to NATO's Article 5, despite vessels linked to an allied country being struck. Meanwhile, wheat futures have risen amid fears of higher insurance costs and potential disruptions to shipping traffic.