Ukraine buys 12 Turkish Drones, orders another 24: Reports

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Turkish news website Haberler reported, on Saturday, that Ukraine has received 12 Bayraktar TB2 drones made in Turkey and has placed an order for another 24.

More than 300, or potentially more than 400, Bayraktar TB2 and Siha drones have been produced in Turkey over the last eight years, with 96 of them shipped to foreign clients, according to the report.

The United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania, Salvador, Serbia, Slovakia, Uruguay, and Ecuador were listed as potential buyers by the news outlet.

Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of Baykar Technology, announced in January that the company had signed contracts to sell its Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles to 16 countries. Last September, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, and a Turkish company signed an agreement to build a joint drone maintenance and modernization center near Kiev.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran stated in March that Ankara did not donate its Bayraktar drones to Kiev as aid, but rather that they were sold to Ukraine by a private company.

It is worth mentioning that Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has lately stated that Turkey is attempting to keep its NATO allies out of the Black Sea, and there are currently no warships from outside the region.

Commenting on whether there are warships of non-coastal countries in the Black Sea at the moment, Akar said, "No, no."

"Let's not give rise to misunderstandings or actions that could be perceived as a provocation. We are saying that whatever intentions you may have, the other side will see it as a provocation," the Turkish Defense Minister added.

Today, Turkey’s stance on the war in Ukraine has been embroiled in controversy surrounding claims of neutrality, especially following drone deals.