Putin's latest threats to attack shipping: experts explain who may be hit

Dec 5, 2025 - 09:04

Threats by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to attack tankers belonging to "countries helping Ukraine" are mainly directed at Turkish and Greek shipowners, as most voyages to Ukrainian ports are carried out by vessels flying their flags

Source: data from the Monitoring Group at Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies, an independent non-governmental organisation advancing maritime law in Black Sea

Quote from Andrii Klymenko, Head of the Monitoring Group at Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies: "In October 2025, 266 vessels quietly arrived at and departed from the ports of Greater Odesa [Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi – ed.]. That is the highest monthly total since the start of the year, despite brutal strikes.

Türkiye is number one on Putin's list of threats. Greece is number two. Together, they accounted for 53.8% of vessels in October."

More details: Statistics from the Monitoring Group show that in October, 107 vessels (40.2%) entered Ukrainian ports under the Turkish flag, while 36 (13.5%) sailed under the Greek flag

They were followed by vessels flying the flags of Lebanon, 15 (5.6%), the Marshall Islands, 14 (5.3%) and others. Nine vessels were in Ukrainian seaports in October under the Ukrainian flag.

Quote: "As is its habit, the Russian Federation has persistently attempted to destroy from the air not only the cities, ports and infrastructure of Greater Odesa but also areas of Odesa Oblast along the Danube River. However, one key indicator suggests that it has failed: the number of merchant ships arriving and departing each month has for a long time remained above 200."

More details: Klymenko said that this was despite strikes, damage to ports and vessels and loss of life among both dockworkers and seafarers.

Background:

On 28 November, two sanctioned tankers were reported to have caught fire in the Black Sea off the coast of Türkiye as a result of external strikes.
Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that it was a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine.
It was reported later that explosions damaged the Mersin, an oil tanker linked to Russia, off the coast of Senegal in West Africa.
On 2 December, the tanker Midvolga-2, travelling from Russia to Georgia, was attacked in the Black Sea approximately 80 miles (around 120 km) off the coast of Türkiye.
Putin said that Russia will intensify attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels entering them. This announcement comes after recent drone strikes on Russian tankers in the Black Sea.
Klymenko said earlier that he believes that Russia had deliberately attacked a gas tanker in the port of Izmail on the night of 16-17 November to scare off shipowners who deliver cargo to Ukrainian ports.
On the night of 16-17 November, the Russians launched a drone attack on the port of Izmail. The attack damaged port infrastructure and several civilian vessels moored at the berths.
A tanker flying the Turkish flag, which was unloading liquefied gas, was damaged in the Russian attack on the Izmail port. About 3,000 tonnes remained on the ship. A large-scale fire broke out. The ship's crew of 16 members was safely evacuated.