Turkey Blocks Dardanelles Transit Permits for Ships Bound for Novorossiysk

Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety has stopped issuing Dardanelles Strait transit permits for commercial ships heading to Russia's Novorossiysk, or has put applications on hold. Ships bound for Ukrainian ports are also facing delays. Traffic to Bulgarian and Turkish Black Sea ports moves normally.

Novorossiysk is a major hub for Russian oil and grain exports.

Turkish officials gave no public explanation for the move. It comes after a run of drone strikes on commercial ships in the Black Sea. Turkish-flagged ships were among those hit. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Russia and Ukraine to agree to a "moratorium" on attacks against civilian shipping.

The Dardanelles is the main passage between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. Any ship on that route must also clear the Bosphorus. Both run through Turkish territory.