Black Sea attacks: Turkey summons Ukraine envoy

Turkey summoned Ukraine’s ambassador over attacks this week in the Black Sea against a Turkish vessel, and against a second ship that came to tow the first, the country’s foreign ministry said Saturday.The attacks happened on Wednesday and Thursday, the ministry told AFP. “During the meeting, Turkey warned about the absolute need to ensure the safety of people, of assets, of navigation and of the environment in the Black Sea,” the ministry said in a statement.It said the Turkish container ship Lider Bordo Mavi was hit on Wednesday while it was off the Russian coast on the Black Sea. The next day, the ship Lider Kocatepe sent to tow the cargo vessel was also targeted, the ministry said.The ministry did not say whether there were any casualties in the attacks.According to local Turkish media, the container ship was towed to the Turkish port of Samsun. Ankara has been calling for weeks on Ukraine and Russia to suspend their attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Turkish commercial ships are active in the Black Sea, sailing under various countries’ flags, and several have been hit by drones suspected to be launched by Ukraine.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.