Turkey curbs Black Sea ship transit after attacks near Russia, Ukraine
Why it matters: The move could further disrupt grain and oil flows through Novorossiysk and add pressure to already volatile trade routes.
Turkey has tightened access for commercial ships entering the Black Sea through the Dardanelles after a rise in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the area. Multiple ships bound for Russia’s Novorossiysk, a major oil and grain export port, were told transit permits were not being issued for now or needed additional review. One source said some ships heading to Ukraine also faced restrictions. The step follows drone strikes earlier this week that injured crew members, including Turkish citizens, on two Turkish-owned vessels. Ankara has urged the warring sides to take concrete steps to protect navigation, warning that further escalation could hurt food security and global trade.