Turkey's Defense Ministry Responds to Opposition Claims on Drone Incident Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Turkey's Defense Ministry rejected claims from opposition leader Özgür Özel that the military delayed action against a Russian drone, asserting that the Turkish army acted swiftly in accordance with engagement rules. The ministry confirmed the downing of an unidentified drone over the Black Sea and highlighted the robust security measures in place to protect Turkish airspace amid increasing drone activity related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Directorate of Communications, refuted claims by Republican People's Party Chair Özgür Özel that the Turkish army delayed shooting down a Russian drone for two hours awaiting President Erdoğan's orders. The Directorate's Center for Combating Disinformation clarified that the Turkish army acted promptly on December 15 under existing engagement rules.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that Turkish fighter jets downed an unidentified drone over the Black Sea and found wreckage of two drones in Balıkesir and Kocaeli. The ministry emphasized that Turkish airspace is well-protected with a multi-layered security system and that recent drone incidents reflect the increased use of drones in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, not deficiencies in air defenses.
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