Selçuk Esenyel, Founding Partner of Esenyel & Partners Law and Consultancy, stating that this attack occurring in Türkiye’s exclusive economic zone is an irresponsible and unlawful act, said, “Another state conducting a military action in Türkiye’s own exclusive economic zone constitutes disrespect for its sovereignty rights. Respect for Türkiye’s sovereign rights and ensuring navigation, life, property, and environmental safety in our maritime jurisdiction areas is not a negotiable matter.”
As the Russia-Ukraine War enters its 4th year, the tension between the two countries has also spilled over into the waters of the Black Sea. In the attacks that occurred in the Black Sea on November 28, 2025, which became a public agenda item, two commercial tankers flying the Gambian flag, one located 50 miles and the other 100 miles from the coast, were hit by unmanned maritime vehicles (UMVs). The first response to the attacked tankers was carried out by Turkish Coast Safety teams.
Underlining that the ships in question were not warships but civilian merchant vessels, Attorney Selçuk Esenyel, Founding Partner of Esenyel & Partners Law and Consultancy, said that the attack occurring in an area so close to our shores increased the significance of the incident. Emphasizing that there was no loss of life thanks to the coordinated and rapid response of Turkish maritime institutions, Esenyel said, “This attack could have turned into a much greater disaster. The rescue of all personnel and the securing of the ships were made possible thanks to the timely and appropriate intervention of our teams from the Port Authorities under our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Coast Safety General Directorate tugs, and the Coast Guard Command.”
“An irresponsible and unlawful act”
Highlighting that this attack occurring in Türkiye’s exclusive economic zone is an irresponsible and unlawful act, Esenyel stated that these attacks on the two tankers not only endangered human life but also posed a great risk to Türkiye’s marine environment. “Even if the tankers were empty, if the thousands of tons of fuel in their tanks had mixed with the sea, the sensitive ecological balance of the Black Sea could have faced irreparable damage. The environmental disaster that could occur as a result of these attacks is of a scale that could affect not only Türkiye but the entire Black Sea basin. Conducting a military operation in Türkiye’s exclusive economic zone in a manner that poses such a great risk to Türkiye’s marine environment is a clear violation of both international maritime law and environmental law,” said Esenyel, arguing that this irresponsible action cannot be justified in any way.
“Respect must be shown to Türkiye’s sovereign rights”
Selçuk Esenyel underlined that although the Republic of Türkiye is not a signatory to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in accordance with customary international law, it complies with and supports all provisions to which it is not a persistent objector, noting that the provisions concerning the exclusive economic zone are also within this scope. Therefore, noting that respecting Türkiye’s sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone is not only a treaty obligation but also a requirement under the norms of customary international law, Esenyel continued his words as follows: “Another state launching a military attack against merchant vessels in Türkiye’s own exclusive economic zone constitutes disrespect for its sovereignty rights.
This does not fall into the category of terrorism or piracy as some mention, because the attack was carried out by a state, it is a direct violation of the UN Charter.
Respect for Turkey’s sovereign rights and ensuring navigation, life, property, and environmental safety within our maritime jurisdiction areas is not a negotiable issue. Targeting civilian vessels is unacceptable under international law. These vessels are not military ships, they carry no weapons. Civilian people like us are working on them. These individuals have no military training; they have no defense equipment. Such attacks threaten the safety and security of maritime trade, increase regional instability, and set an unacceptable precedent.”
