The Turkish closure of the straits hindered the capture of Mykolaiv and Odesa, according to the ambassador.

The closure of the straits by Turkey prevented the capture of Mykolaiv and Odesa, - ambassador

Turkey's closure of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, in line with the Montreux Convention, has hindered the aggressor's ability to leverage its maritime advantage to seize Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other territories since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This was stated by Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, in an interview with Ukrinform.

“One of the key stages in Ukraine's defense was Turkey's closure of the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. We sank one ‘Moscow,’ and two more Russian cruisers were waiting in the Mediterranean Sea. I believe that Turkey's closure of the straits prevented Russia from using its maritime advantage to capture Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other territories that, according to Moscow's plans, were to be occupied through maritime operations,” Bodnar noted.

The diplomat also reminded that Turkey has become a significant transport hub for Ukraine.

“Previously, when ships carrying cargo for Ukraine docked at Turkish ports, the regulatory framework did not allow Ukrainian carriers to transport these goods. Now, there is a transport visa-free regime. Without licenses and permits, our companies are transporting essential cargo for Ukraine from Turkish and other ports through Turkey,” Bodnar informed.