Survivors Recall Deadly Strike Off Crimea
A drone strike on a Turkish-flagged fishing vessel in the Black Sea has left survivors grappling with trauma and financial loss, while Turkey continues to press for diplomatic solutions to protect its maritime interests.
The incident occurred on June 5 when the crew of the Duru 67 was having breakfast. A massive blast lifted the five fishermen off their feet and threw them across the main deck as a second strike hit moments later. The boat, which had its Turkish flag raised and carried no weapons, sank lower into the water.
Ahmet Ozlu, 40, one of the survivors, described the chaos. "There was fire and smoke," he said. "The blast lifted us up and threw us left and right when hit by a drone off Crimea." He stated that he was terrified of another strike and believed they were going to die.
The crew found their captain, Cuneyt Varlik, 45, lying in a pool of his own blood with his carotid artery severed by shrapnel. Varlik was the childhood friend of Mehmet Ozlu, 53, who also suffered extensive internal and external injuries from the attack. The two brothers were rescued an hour later after the boat began to sink.
Turkish coastguard officials informed the crew that the attack was carried out by a Ukrainian drone that had hit them "by mistake," according to reports. The attack was never officially claimed by any party.
Mehmet Ozlu said the crew never expected Ukraine to target them given their clear identification as civilian fishermen. He stated that as a state, Ukraine owes them an answer and compensation for the damages and injuries sustained.
Neither Mehmet nor Ahmet Ozlu has returned to sea due to their injuries. The incident underscores the physical toll of the conflict on those working in the region.
Industry Reports Surge in Attacks on Commercial Vessels
The Duru 67 attack is part of a broader pattern of violence affecting maritime traffic in the Black Sea. Turkey’s Chamber of Maritime Commerce (IMEAK) reported that 226 civilian and commercial vessels have been attacked since the start of the war, with the vast majority occurring in the current year.
IMEAK chairman Tamer Kiran stated on August 27 that 163 of these attacks, representing more than 70 percent, took place in the first eight months of 2026. Industry sources indicated that four additional vessels have been hit since that period.
In the preceding two months prior to the latest reports, 22 Turkish-owned vessels were attacked. A Turkish defense source told reporters that almost 90 ships were hit in August alone.
Another notable incident occurred on July 22 when the MV Reyhan Sari was attacked after collecting a shipment of Russian coal. The strike killed one crew member and wounded three others.
Enes Torun, 21, a survivor of a separate incident, described the current conditions in the Black Sea as impossible for work. He stated that being there now means accepting the possibility of death. While he is healing physically, he is struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Turkey has accused both warring sides of "attacking all commercial shipping without distinction." The Turkish Maritime Workers’ Platform also accused Russia and Ukraine of a blatant disregard for civilian lives.
Ankara Seeks Diplomatic Resolution Amid Rising Tensions
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the issue at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, stating that recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea are unacceptable regardless of who is responsible.
Turkey has attempted to mediate between the conflicting parties. A Turkish diplomat told AFP last week that Ankara had reached out with a fresh proposal. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that this outreach resulted in both sides returning with "demands and positions that are difficult to reconcile."
The ongoing violence continues to impact the livelihoods of Turkish mariners and raises questions about the safety of international trade routes in the region.