Turkey shot down an “out of control” UAV that approached its airspace from the Black Sea, the defence ministry said late on Monday, December 15th. F-16 fighter planes were scrambled after the drone was detected and it was destroyed in a safe area away from populated zones.
The incident comes amid increased military activity in the Black Sea following Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers used to bypass Western sanctions. Recent strikes have taken place close to Turkey’s exclusive economic zone, raising concerns in Ankara over maritime safety and regional stability.
Turkey, a NATO member with close ties to both Russia and Ukraine, has repeatedly warned against escalation in the Black Sea. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously described attacks on shipping near Turkish waters as a “worrying” development, stressing the risks to navigation and security in the region.
