Russian strikes on Chornomorsk and Odesa ports damaged three Turkish-owned vessels, including the Panama-flagged Cenk T, Ukrainian officials and the shipowner said. Cenk Shipping reported limited damage and no crew casualties, while an employee was injured in Odesa. Ukraine and Turkey warned the strikes targeted civilian logistics and threatened maritime security; Turkey urged measures to prevent wider escalation in the Black Sea.
Russian Strikes Damage Turkish-Owned Ships at Chornomorsk and Odesa Ports
Firefighters work at the site of a civilian vessel hit during a Russian missile strike in the town of Chornomorsk, Odesa region, Ukraine, on December 12, 2025 [Handout/Press Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Poltava Region via Reuters]
Russian forces launched strikes on two Ukrainian Black Sea ports on Friday, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels and hitting port infrastructure in Chornomorsk and Odesa, Ukrainian officials and shipowners said.
Attack Details
A Ukrainian navy spokesperson told Reuters that three Turkish-owned vessels were damaged, while the Panama-flagged, Turkish-owned freighter Cenk T was specifically identified after matching port features with satellite imagery. Cenk Shipping said the Cenk T was struck at about 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT), reported limited damage and no crew casualties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted video of firefighters extinguishing a blaze aboard what he described as a "civilian vessel" in Chornomorsk and condemned the strikes as having "no military purpose whatsoever." Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said the attacks used drones and ballistic missiles and were aimed at civilian logistics and commercial shipping. In Odesa, an employee of a private company was injured and a cargo loader was damaged.
Official Reactions
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a Turkish-owned vessel was hit in Chornomorsk and said no Turkish citizens were reported injured. The ministry warned the strikes underscored growing risks to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, and reiterated calls to suspend attacks that endanger shipping, port infrastructure and energy facilities.
Earlier on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ashgabat, urged calm in the Black Sea and proposed a limited ceasefire to protect energy facilities and ports — an idea Turkey has promoted as it seeks to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
Wider Context
Ukraine's three major Black Sea ports in the Odesa region are vital economic arteries for exports, especially grain. The strikes come amid a broader maritime escalation: Moscow has threatened to "cut Ukraine off from the sea" in retaliation for Kyiv's maritime drone attacks on an unmarked "shadow fleet" of tankers, which Kyiv says help fund Russia's war. Ukraine has also expanded operations against Russian energy revenue sources, including a recent strike on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea.
Key Fact: Officials say the attacks targeted civilian logistics and commerce, raising concerns over maritime safety and the security of commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Reporting remains fluid; details on the full extent of damage and any follow-up diplomatic responses are likely to emerge as authorities continue assessments.
