Turkiye has warned Russia and Ukraine against further attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, saying it reserves the right to take legal action over strikes on Turkish-flagged or Turkish-owned ships.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, that Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler made the statement on Wednesday following a meeting on Black Sea security in Sofia, Bulgaria, attended by defence ministers and military chiefs from Turkiye, Romania and Bulgaria.

“We follow with concern the intense attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and call on the sides to act with common sense, in line with the principle of navigational safety in open seas,” Guler said.

He added that another commercial vessel had been struck by three drones within Bulgaria’s maritime jurisdiction on Wednesday. The circumstances of the attack on a Greek container ship sailing under the Liberian flag remained unclear.

Guler said Ankara had repeatedly warned both sides to keep commercial shipping out of the conflict zone and immediately halt attacks on civilian vessels.