A Turkish-flagged fishing vessel sank in the Black Sea on Friday after coming under attack off the coast of Sevastopol, near Russian-occupied Crimea, leaving one fisherman dead and four others injured, Turkish authorities said.
The vessel, identified as DURU 67, was operating in waters west of Crimea when it sustained severe damage during the attack and subsequently sank, Turkey’s Coast Guard Command said in a statement.
Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the attack or identified those responsible.
A nearby Turkish fishing boat, BURAK KAYA, rushed to the scene and evacuated five injured crew members from the sinking vessel, ilkha.com reported. The rescue boat then began heading toward the northern Turkish port of İnebolu. During the journey, one of the fishermen, who had suffered critical injuries, died.
Following the distress call, Turkey’s oast Guard dispatched a patrol vessel from İnebolu Port with a specialized medical team.
The deceased fisherman’s body and the four injured crew members were transferred to the Coast Guard vessel, where emergency medical treatment began before they were transported back to shore.
Turkish officials said the injured fishermen were later taken to medical facilities for further treatment.
Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. No group or state actor has claimed responsibility.
The attack occurred in a region that has seen heightened security concerns since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The incident comes just weeks after Türkiye warned against what it described as an “uncontrolled escalation” in the Black Sea following a separate attack on a Turkish cargo vessel. At the time, Ukrainian naval officials said a Russian drone had struck the ship, highlighting the growing dangers facing civilian maritime traffic.
