As of September 26, 2026, the situation in the Black Sea region remains extremely tense. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia views current incidents involving Ukrainian drone attacks on commercial vessels as a direct threat requiring firm countermeasures. According to official Russian Ministry of Defense data, air defense forces intercepted a record 645 drones over the past 24 hours, most of which were targeted at the Black and Azov Seas.
A Comprehensive Approach to Security
Commenting on Turkey's initiatives to ensure shipping security, Peskov highlighted the lack of substantive progress. "Turkey has put forward proposals, but no substantive negotiations are currently underway," the Kremlin representative noted. Moscow insists that any security guarantees must be comprehensive, covering all aspects of regional stability rather than fragmented measures to protect individual assets.
Contradictory Data
While the Russian defense ministry reports the interception of hundreds of drones, Western and Ukrainian sources provide different statistics, focusing on strikes against infrastructure supporting Russian logistics. The parties also differ in their assessment of damage caused to civil shipping: Russia accuses Ukraine of threatening international trade routes, while Kyiv insists on the legitimacy of strikes against vessels that they claim are used for military purposes.
Freezing Diplomatic Channels
The Kremlin's statement regarding the lack of urgency in appointing new ambassadors to the UK and France drew significant attention. Peskov directly linked this issue to the state of bilateral relations, which are currently classified as being in a deep crisis. The absence of ambassadors, according to the Kremlin representative, reflects a reality where dialogue is practically non-existent and European initiatives for restoration do not align with Moscow's interests.
