Turkey has reportedly restricted some commercial ship traffic heading into the Black Sea following a rise in attacks on vessels in the region. The move comes amid growing concerns over the safety of ships operating near areas affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has reportedly told several vessels bound for Novorossiysk, a major Russian port for oil and grain exports, that transit permits through the Dardanelles Strait are not currently being issued or may require additional review. Some vessels heading to Ukraine have also reportedly been affected by the restrictions.

The decision follows recent drone attacks on two Turkish-owned vessels, which injured several crew members, including Turkish citizens. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry called for urgent measures to protect navigation in the Black Sea and warned that further escalation could have wider effects, including on food security.

The restrictions could create additional challenges for international shipping and the movement of oil and grain from the Black Sea region. However, vessels heading toward Bulgarian and Turkish ports were still reported to be moving north through the Dardanelles as of August 8, according to ship-tracking data.