Ukraine stepped up attacks on civilian vessels in the Black and Azov seas after the NATO summit in Ankara, creating new threats to shipping and Turkey’s energy security, Aydınlık reported, citing its sources.

Ships linked to Turkey have also come under attack. The newspaper warned that further escalation could disrupt oil supplies along a route that carries millions of barrels every month, including roughly half of Turkey’s crude imports.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously described the tanker attacks as an outrageous incident and an infringement on Turkey’s sovereignty.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in late November that the forces behind Kiev’s attacks in the Black Sea had previously derailed the negotiation process and were now seeking another round of military escalation.

The Guardian, citing a source in the Ukrainian security services, reported that Kiev had acknowledged its involvement in maritime drone attacks on two tankers off the Turkish coast.