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.
What is Turkey’s
response to Russia-Ukraine tensions after Black Sea drone?
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.
