Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Turkey Restricts Black Sea Shipping After Surge in Attacks
Turkey is a country that sits near a big sea called the Black Sea.
Ships sail through the Black Sea to carry food and oil to other countries.
Lately, two countries that are fighting, Russia and Ukraine, have been attacking ships in that sea.
Some of the ships that got hit belonged to Turkey, and some Turkish sailors got hurt.
Because Turkey's leaders think the sea is not safe, they are telling some ships they cannot sail there right now.
The people in charge of this are called the Directorate General of Coastal Safety.
Turkey is asking the countries that are fighting to stop attacking ships so people can safely move food and oil.
This is important because many places need the food and oil that comes from the Black Sea.
When ships cannot travel, the price of food like wheat can go up.
Turkey is restricting commercial ship traffic into the Black Sea after a surge in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the area.
The Directorate General of Coastal Safety told ships bound for Russia's Novorossiysk that transit permits via the Dardanelles Strait are not currently being issued or need more review time.
Crew members, including Turkish citizens, were injured in drone attacks on two Turkish-owned vessels this week.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry called on all actors, especially the warring parties, to urgently implement concrete measures for Black Sea navigational safety, warning of consequences for food security.
The move adds to global trade disruption already caused by the war in Iran and reduced volumes through the Strait of Hormuz, with wheat prices at a two-year high in July.
- Who
- Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety and Transport and Infrastructure Ministry; Russia and Ukraine, whose attacks target commercial vessels, including Turkish-owned ships.
- What
- Turkey is restricting commercial ship traffic into the Black Sea, including voyages bound for Russia's Novorossiysk, by not issuing or delaying transit permits via the Dardanelles Strait.
- When
- This week, following drone attacks on two Turkish-owned vessels that injured crew members; wheat prices reached a two-year high in July.
- Where
- The Black Sea, reached via the Dardanelles Strait; decisions were made in Ankara, Turkey.
- Why
- A surge in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on commercial shipping raised concerns about navigational safety in the Black Sea and risks to food security.
- Restricted destination
- Russia's Novorossiysk, a key oil and grain export hub
- Regulator
- Directorate General of Coastal Safety (Turkey)
- Route affected
- Transit via the Dardanelles Strait into the Black Sea
- Trigger
- Surge in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea
- Recent incident
- Drone attacks on two Turkish-owned vessels injured crew members, including Turkish citizens
- Turkey's demand
- Concrete measures by all actors, especially the warring parties, to ensure navigational safety
- Wider context
- War in Iran and reduced Strait of Hormuz volumes disrupt oil flows; wheat prices at two-year high in July