On August 9 (Istanbul time), according to TASS, the owner of the Turkish cargo ship MV Reyhan Sari, the ship attacked by a UAV in the Black Sea in July, is preparing to sue Ukraine at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
MV Reyhan Sari is a Turkish dry cargo ship, transporting coal from the Russian port of Taman to Trabzon, Turkey. According to previously published information, the ship was attacked by a UAV in the Black Sea on July 22.
The attack killed 1 crew member and injured 2 others.
According to sources, the lawsuit will be filed by T VE O Denizcilik Company, owner of MV Reyhan Sari, and 15 crew members. The content of the lawsuit is transferred to lawyers who argue that the commercial vessel is protected by international law and cannot be considered a military target.
The lawsuit also accuses Ukraine of deliberately attacking Turkish cargo ships.
Information about the lawsuit was released in the context that maritime security in the Black Sea continues to become a worrying issue due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This area is an important transport route, where commercial ships continue to operate under the impact of military activities.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan previously said that Ankara is closely monitoring maritime safety in the Black Sea. He also proposed that the parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine declare a temporary suspension of military operations, including those taking place in the Black Sea.
Ankara warned that if the parties do not take measures to curb fighting, the situation could cause serious consequences, including the risk of affecting food security.
The Black Sea plays an important role in the transportation of goods, energy and agricultural products of the region. Therefore, attacks targeting commercial ships can endanger the crew and increase risks to international transportation activities.
The incident of the MV Reyhan Sari ship also highlighted Turkey's concerns that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could continue to spread to maritime activities and affect civilian ships passing through the Black Sea.
