In response to journalists' inquiries about the situation in the Black Sea, Putin stated, "What the Ukrainian armed forces are doing now is piracy." He emphasized that, in response, Russia would "expand the range of strikes" on Ukrainian ports and vessels entering their waters.
The President of Russia added that if Ukrainian attacks continue, Moscow would consider the possibility of taking measures against the ships of countries supporting Kyiv in these actions. He also noted that the attacks were occurring in Turkey's exclusive economic zone.
According to Putin, the "most radical way" to solve the problem is to "cut Ukraine off from the sea," which, in his opinion, would eliminate the possibility of piracy altogether.
Furthermore, Putin stated that these measures would be applied "increasingly" and expressed hope that the Ukrainian leadership and those behind it would reconsider their actions.
At the end of November, the tankers "Kairos" and "Virat," which fly the Gambian flag, became victims of drone attacks in the Black Sea near the Turkish coast.
According to information from Ukrainian media, citing sources in the Security Service of Ukraine, these attacks were part of a special operation conducted using upgraded drones. It is specified that the attacked tankers may have been carrying oil worth nearly 70 million dollars, which helped the Kremlin circumvent international sanctions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the attack on the tankers as a "flagrant case" and "an encroachment on Turkey's sovereignty." In turn, Turkey stated that the attacks created "a serious threat to navigation, life, property, and the ecosystem of the region."
