Türkiye stops Russia from seizing Odesa, Mykolaiv by closing Bosporus, Dardanelles Straits - Ambassador

This was stated by Ambassador of Ukraine to Türkiye Vasyl Bodnar in an interview with Ukrinform.

According to him, Türkiye's closure of the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, in line with the Montreux Convention, has played a crucial role in preventing Russia from using its naval power to capture Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other regions since the start of its large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“One of the key moments in Ukraine's defense was Türkiye’s decision to close the Bosporus and Dardanelles. We sank the Russian cruiser Moskva, and two more Russian cruisers were waiting in the Mediterranean. Türkiye’s move to block the straits, I believe, stopped Russia from using its maritime advantage to seize Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other territories that Moscow had planned to occupy in coastal operations,” Bodnar said.

He also pointed out that Türkiye has become a major transport hub for Ukraine.

“Previously, when ships carrying goods for Ukraine docked at Turkish ports, Ukrainian carriers couldn't enter to transport the cargo due to regulatory restrictions. Now, there's a visa-free transport regime. Ukrainian companies can move goods freely from Turkish ports and others, all through Türkiye, without the need for licenses or permits,” the ambassador explained.

• Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan believes that the war in Ukraine could easily end if the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration takes a hands-off approach to resolving the situation.