Turkey says it warned both Russia and Ukraine to be more cautious after Turkish F-16s shot down an "out-of-control" drone that entered its airspace from the Black Sea. The drone was taken down in a safe area to protect civilians and air traffic, but fragmented debris has made identification difficult. Authorities linked the incident to recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian tankers and said search and technical analysis are ongoing.
Turkey Warns Russia and Ukraine After F-16s Shoot Down Drone Over Black Sea
Turkey has warned both Russia and Ukraine to exercise greater caution in the Black Sea after Turkish F-16s shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that entered the country’s airspace, the defense ministry said Thursday.
Officials said the fighters were scrambled on Monday when an "out-of-control" drone approached from the Black Sea. The jet pilots engaged and downed the object in a designated safe area to protect civilians and commercial air traffic. Turkish authorities have not publicly identified the drone’s origin.
"Because of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, our counterparts have been warned that both sides need to be more careful regarding incidents that could negatively affect the security of the Black Sea," the ministry said.
The ministry added that the drone likely fragmented on impact, scattering debris across a wide area and complicating efforts to determine its provenance. Search operations and technical analysis of recovered fragments remain under way.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions after Ukraine acknowledged its naval drones struck two Russian "shadow fleet" tankers on Nov. 28, and a third vessel was hit on Dec. 2 while en route to the Turkish port of Sinop. Turkish officials have repeatedly warned of the risk of the Russia-Ukraine war spilling into neighboring waters.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the earlier strikes, saying they posed a threat to "navigational safety, life and the environment, especially in our own exclusive zone." Turkish authorities have urged restraint to prevent further escalation and to safeguard commercial shipping in the busy Black Sea corridor.
