By Bosphorus News Türkiye Desk
The owner of the Turkish-flagged bulk carrier Reyhan Sarı and 15 crew members are preparing a submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the July 22 drone attack that killed a Turkish sailor in the Black Sea.
T&O Denizcilik, represented by Memişoğlu Kurun Law Office, is preparing an Article 15 communication to the ICC Prosecutor alleging that Ukrainian forces deliberately targeted the vessel, including areas used by its crew, according to details of the application reported by Turkish maritime media.
An Article 15 communication allows individuals or organizations to provide the ICC Prosecutor with information about alleged crimes within the court's jurisdiction. It does not itself open an investigation or constitute a case against Ukraine as a state, since the court examines the potential criminal responsibility of individuals.
Reyhan Sarı, a 36,075-deadweight-ton bulk carrier registered in the Turkish International Ship Registry, was carrying coal from Taman to Trabzon when it was struck on July 22. The attack killed 54-year-old engine-room worker Savaş Çakar and injured other crew members before the vessel later reached Trabzon.
The application alleges that the strike was deliberate and that accommodation areas aboard the ship were specifically targeted. It also includes claims about the type of munitions used, although Bosphorus News has found no independent technical assessment confirming those allegations.
Responsibility for the attack has not been independently established. Ukrainian forces reported striking 13 vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov during the same period, describing them as ships involved in Russian military logistics and energy exports, but Kyiv did not publicly identify Reyhan Sarı among those targets.
The shipowner and crew are alleging Ukrainian responsibility, while no public Ukrainian statement reviewed by Bosphorus News has acknowledged an attack on Reyhan Sarı.
The application reportedly argues that the strike could amount to crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction. Whether the incident constitutes a war crime or another international crime would depend on the evidence, the circumstances of the attack and the Prosecutor's assessment rather than the applicants' characterization.
Türkiye is not a party to the Rome Statute, while Ukraine has been an ICC state party since January 1, 2025. Under the statute, the court may exercise jurisdiction where an alleged perpetrator is a national of a state party, meaning Reyhan Sarı's Turkish registration would not by itself prevent the Prosecutor from examining alleged conduct by Ukrainian nationals.
The move follows a series of attacks affecting Turkish-owned, Turkish-operated and Turkish-flagged commercial vessels as the Russia-Ukraine war has increasingly reached civilian shipping and Türkiye's maritime interests. Reyhan Sarı became one of the most serious cases after the strike killed a Turkish sailor aboard a Turkish-flagged vessel, prompting maritime organizations in Türkiye to call for greater protection of civilian crews and accountability for attacks on commercial shipping.
Ankara has repeatedly urged both Russia and Ukraine to keep civilian navigation and commercial routes outside the conflict while avoiding blanket attribution where responsibility has not been established.
Once submitted, the Reyhan Sarı communication will place the July 22 attack before the ICC Prosecutor, who will decide whether the information warrants further examination.
Sources: HaberDenizde, İMEAK Chamber of Shipping, International Criminal Court, Ukrainian official statements, Bosphorus News review and reporting.