Russia (Washington Insider) - Turkey shot down an “out of control” drone from the Black Sea on Monday, Dec 15, 2025, after Ukrainian strikes on Russian tankers; President Erdogan warned both sides to protect security and navigation.
As Alarabiya English News reported, Turkey has called on Russia and Ukraine to act with care in the Black Sea after its air force shot down a drone that entered Turkish airspace. The Defence Ministry said the incident took place on Monday, Dec 15, 2025, when an “out of control” drone approached from the Black Sea. Turkish F-16 fighter jets were sent to the area under standard air defence procedures. The drone was later shot down in a safe location to protect civilians and civil aviation.
"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.
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Turkish authorities have not revealed the source of the drone that violated the country’s airspace. The Defence Ministry said the drone likely shattered into small fragments after it was brought down.
The debris was scattered across a wide area. Officials said search efforts and technical examinations are continuing. Teams are working to recover the remaining pieces and assess the drone’s origin and function.
This incident is part of a continuing series of naval drone attacks occurring within the Black Sea region. Ukrainian forces claimed that their naval drones attacked 2 oil tankers on November 28, 2025, and a third oil tanker was hit by Ukrainian naval drones while en route to Sinop in Turkey on December 2, 2025.
As Turkish military officials noted, as military activity increases, there is an increased possibility for accidents and further escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine due to competing interests over key shipping routes and regional stability.
Turkey, a NATO member with territorial interests in the Black Sea, has remained in communication with both Moscow and Kyiv. The Turkish government has called on all parties to the conflict to respect each other's airspace and maritime boundaries and to act in a manner that does not jeopardise either security or maritime trade within the Black Sea.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced the attacks, stating they are detrimental to navigational safety, human lives, and the environment.
As a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there has been an escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which has increased military operations, trade, and energy shipments in the Black Sea region.
Due to Turkey's control over access to the Black Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, the Turkish government has issued a warning to both sides in the conflict against taking any actions that would lead to a further escalation of the conflict.