Turkish Car Ferry Strikes Blaze Amid Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine

Sun Dec 14 2025 05:49:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Turkish car ferry, the Cenk T, suffered significant damage after being hit in a strike at the Chornomorsk port in Ukraine. The attack, blamed on Russia, raises tensions amidst ongoing war discussions. No casualties have been reported among the crew.

A large fire erupted on the Turkish car ferry Cenk T at the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk after it was struck on Friday by missiles, which Ukraine's President Zelensky attributes to Russia. The attack occurred shortly after Turkey's President Erdogan proposed a limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Emergency services responded quickly, and luckily, there were no reported casualties among the crew. The incident highlights increasing concerns over maritime security as tensions between the two nations rise.

A large fire broke out on a Turkish car ferry anchored at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa after it was hit in a strike on Friday.

The company that operates the Cenk T confirmed the attack occurred at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) shortly after it docked at the Chornomorsk port.

Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky has blamed the strike on Russia, which has not commented.

The attack came hours after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a limited ceasefire for energy facilities and ports could be beneficial. Russia has resisted all calls for a ceasefire.

Moscow has threatened to cut Ukraine off from the sea in response to Kyiv's maritime drone attacks on Russia's tankers thought to be used to export oil - a primary source of funding for the ongoing war.

Cenk Denizcilik, the company that owns the cargo ship, stated that it had been carrying essential food supplies when it was hit shortly after anchoring. Emergency response measures were quickly activated, and there are currently no reports of casualties among the crew.

Video footage shared on Zelensky's Telegram account shows emergency crews attempting to extinguish the fire.

While condemning earlier missile attacks by Russia in the Odesa region, Zelensky emphasized that the targeted Turkish vessel had no military purpose. Turkey's foreign ministry has urged for an agreement to ensure the safety of shipping and prevent escalations in the Black Sea.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey has attempted to maintain a balanced approach with both countries, while also controlling the Bosphorus Strait, crucial for shipping routes.