Turkey: Drone washes ashore on Black Sea coast

Turkish authorities have recovered an unmanned aerial vehicle that washed ashore along the country’s Black Sea coastline, the defence ministry said on February 12, 2026, in what marks the latest in a series of drone-related incidents in the region according to The New Arab.

The drone was discovered on a beach in the Unye district of Ordu province earlier in the week. In a weekly press briefing, defence ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk said the aircraft did not contain explosives and was believed to be of Russian origin.

A specialised military team was dispatched to the site to assess the object after it was reported to authorities. The drone was subsequently transferred to local security officials for further technical examination.

Initial reports from local media had described the aircraft as a possible Iranian-made “suicide drone” and suggested it may have posed an explosive risk. However, the defence ministry’s statement dismissed those claims, saying no explosive material was found.

According to Turkish media, fishermen first spotted the object near the shoreline and alerted police. Security forces, including police, gendarmerie and coast guard units, secured the area as a precaution, temporarily closing nearby roads over concerns the device might contain explosives.

The incident adds to a growing number of suspicious objects recovered along Turkey’s northern coast in recent months. Fishermen and coastal patrol units have previously reported sea mines and unmanned maritime drones believed to be connected to ongoing hostilities in the Black Sea.

Since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Black Sea has witnessed repeated incidents involving naval assets and unmanned systems. Turkish authorities have responded to several discoveries along the coastline, often dispatching explosive disposal teams and naval specialists to assess potential threats.

In September and October 2025, unmanned sea drones were found off the coasts of Trabzon and Artvin provinces, prompting similar security responses. In late December, a sea mine believed to be of Russian origin washed up near Agva and was destroyed by security forces.

Authorities have not indicated whether the latest drone incident poses any broader security implications, but investigations remain ongoing.

The New Arab, Maghrebi.org