Turkey's Defense Ministry said on December 16 that the country had shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was out of control as it approached the airspace from the Black Sea. After detecting the target, Turkey has deployed its and NATO's F-16 fighters ready to ensure air security.
According to the announcement, the authorities determined that the strange UAV was in an uncontrolled state and took down a target in a safe area. The Turkish Defense Ministry did not provide further information about the type or origin of the UAV.
The incident comes as Turkey has recently warned of the risk of escalating tensions in the Black Sea following Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports. The strikes damaged three Turkish cargo ships, raising concerns about maritime safety in the area.
The above developments continue Moscow's previous statement about the possibility of "cutting Ukraine out of the sea" after Kiev launched attacks that damaged three tankers believed to belong to the "dark fleet" on their way to Russia to export oil across the Black Sea.
Turkish authorities have stressed that activating defense measures is necessary to protect national sovereignty in the context of increasingly complex security in the Black Sea.
