Turkey urges Black Sea safety as Russian strikes hit Ukrainian ports

Ankara has called on Russia and Ukraine to safeguard maritime navigation in the Black Sea following drone strikes on two Turkish-owned commercial vessels near Novorossiysk, which injured several crew members. Turkish officials warned that escalating attacks on commercial shipping lanes pose serious risks to global food security.

Concurrently, Russian forces launched air and drone bombardments across Ukraine. Guided bomb attacks in Sumy killed several civilians, including two children, while Shahed drone strikes targeted port infrastructure in Mykolaiv, damaging two merchant ships.

Despite ongoing aerial attacks, Institute for the Study of War data indicates Russian territorial progress slowed significantly in July, with monthly frontline gains constrained to under 40 square kilometers.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă