Turkey urges Russia and Ukraine to protect Black Sea shipping after drone attacks

Turkey has called on Russia and Ukraine to take urgent measures to ensure maritime safety in the Black Sea following drone strikes on two Turkish-owned commercial vessels near the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Ankara expressed deep concern over the expanding conflict threatening civilian shipping and global food security after crew members were injured in the incidents.

Simultaneously, Russian forces launched widespread drone bombardments across Ukraine, killing at least eight people and injuring over 60. Strikes hit civilian port infrastructure and two vessels in Mykolaiv, alongside targets in Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and near Kryvyi Rih.

Despite the sustained air strikes, an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War indicates that Russian front-line territorial gains slowed significantly in July to under 40 square kilometers.

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