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The Russian-Ukraine War and The Uses of Naval Mines in the Black Sea the Legal Consequences in Turkey

Year 2025, Volume: 34 Issue: 1, 16 - 28, 11.04.2025

Mouhamed Bachır Dıop

https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1464987

Abstract

Stray mines in the Black Sea (BS) have sparked substantial debates. Despite the various areas of concern, this matter also warrants a legal perspective. Given that Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine are the primary countries significantly involved, each has developed a distinct legal personality under international law. Therefore, it is important to refer to international law to elucidate this complex issue. This study examines the legal intricacies of the stray mine situation in the BS region by focusing on legal aspects. It also considers other relevant factors, particularly the potential legal implications for Turkey. In the context of this study, we argue that Turkey's geopolitical position, along with its international commitments, places it in a significant role and brings it into close engagement with other nations, especially amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In this study, I will discuss the general framework of international law governing the use of naval mines in international conflicts, particularly in the event of war between Russia and Ukraine. Despite the existence of international customs, several international agreements, including the International Montreux Convention concerning the Strait of Istanbul, play a substantial role in this issue.

Keywords

Black Sea Naval Mines Russia Turkey Ukraine War

References

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  • SarıkaYa, B. (2017). Evaluation of The Ukrainian Crisis Within The Context of Regional Security Complex Theory. Afro Eurasian Studies Journa, 6(1-2), Spring & Fall 2017, 33-53 google scholar
  • Shahi D. K. (2022). The battleground of the black sea: a geopolitical analysis. Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 12(5). google scholar
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  • Snegur, J. (2014). Les avantages strategiques de La Crimee. Outre-Terre 2014/4 (N° 41), 316 -329 . google scholar
  • Sprance, W. R. (2004). The Russo-Japanese war: The emergence of Japanese imperial power. Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, Spring 2004, 6(3). google scholar
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  • Vego, M. (2010). On NavaL Warfare. Journal in the Swedish Navy, 1, 73-92. google scholar
  • Wojtowicz, N. (2015). Strategic significance of the Crimean annexation. Panorama Journal, pp. 89-98 google scholar
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Year 2025, Volume: 34 Issue: 1, 16 - 28, 11.04.2025

Mouhamed Bachır Dıop

https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1464987

Abstract

References

  • Adzinbaia, Z. (2017). “NATO in the Black Sea: What to Expect Next?” Research Division-NATO Defense College, Rome-No. 141-Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep17617 Accessed: 23-06-2022 google scholar
  • Agoston, G. & Masters, B. (2009). EncYclopedia of the Ottoman empire. New York: Facts On File, Inc. google scholar
  • Ariker, S. (2019) “Activities of Ottoman navy in Dardanelles front”, Journal of Academic Social Science. Vol. 96, pp. 489-503 google scholar
  • Âtland, K. & Kabanenko, I. (2020). Russia and its Western Neighbors: A Comparative Study of the Security Situation in the Black, Baltic and Barents Sea Regions. Europe-Asia Studies, 72(2), 286-313 google scholar
  • Bowen, A. S. (2022) “Russia’s War in Ukraine: Military and Intelligence Aspects” Congressional Research Service. Stable URL: https:// crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47068. Accessed: 07-07-2022 google scholar
  • Brzezinski, Z. (1994). The Premature Partnership. Foreign Affairs, 73(2),67-83. google scholar
  • Brzezinski, Z. (1997) The grand chessboard American PrimacY and Its Geostrategic Imperatives, New York: Basic Books google scholar
  • Bugnion, F. (2002) “Guerre juste, guerre d’agression et droit international humanitaire” RICR Septembre VOL. 84 N°847 pp. 523-546 google scholar
  • Cavaleri, D. P. (2005). The Law of War: Can 20th-CenturY Standards ApplY to the Global War on Terrorism? Virginia: Ft. Belvoir Defense Technical Information Center google scholar
  • Corduban, C. (2004). La region de la mer noire dans le contexte de l’elargissement de l’union europeenne. Nice : Center International de Formation Europeenne, France google scholar
  • Delanoe, I. (2014) “La Crimee, un bastion strategique sur Le flanc meridional de La Russie” Fondation pour La recherche strategique, Note de la FRS n°14/2014 google scholar
  • DeLanoe, I. (2014). After the Crimean crisis: towards a greater Russian maritime power in the BLack Sea. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 367-382 google scholar
  • Dubois, S. M. & Kerbrat, Y. (2018) La contribution en demie teinte de La CIJ au droit internationaL de L’environnement dans Les affaires Costa-Rica-Nicaragua. Journal du droit International, N? 4, 2018, 1133-1154 google scholar
  • GresseL, G. (2021). “waves of ambition: Russia’s military build-up in Crimea and the black sea” European CounciL on Foreign ReLations, Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stabLe/resrep36096 Accessed: 23-06-2022 google scholar
  • Haines, S. (2014). “907 Hague Convention VIII ReLative to the LaYing of Automatic Submarine Contact Mines. International Law Studie, Stockton Center for the Study of International Law, 90. 412-445 google scholar
  • Hakapââ, K. (2015). “Innocent Passage” Oxford Public International Law (http://opil.ouplaw.com). Oxford UniversitY Press, 2015. google scholar
  • Hazemann, R. (2017). L’evolution de La presence des forces armees russes en Crimee depuis 2014. Revue Defense Nationale (N° 802), 42 - 49 google scholar
  • International Court of Justice. (1949). “Corfic Channel case” Judgment of April 9th, I.C.J. Reports 1947-1948, p. 15 google scholar
  • International Maritim Organization. (2022). Communication from the Government of the Russian Federation, Circular Letter No. 4546 5-4-2022 Ref. No. 003/141 google scholar
  • Jia, B. (2021). The question of jurisdiction in the 2019 Arbitration between Ukraine and Russia. Chinese Journal of International Law (2020), 683-715 google scholar
  • Kodak, G. & İstikbal, C. (2021). A suggestion to improve navigational safetY in the Strait of Istanbul (Bosphorus) “Patrol tugs” J. Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 27(3), 294-316 google scholar
  • Masters, J. (2022). “Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia” Stable URL: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia Accessed: 9-8-2022 google scholar
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. (2022). Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the illegal activities of Russia’s Navy in the Black Sea, Stable URL: https://mfa.gov.ua/en/ Accessed: 28-07-2022 google scholar
  • Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, Adopted in Montreux, Switzerland on JulY 20, 1936 google scholar
  • Neset. S. et. al, (2021). TurkeY as a regional securitY actor in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Levant Region. “CMI Report No: 02” June 2021 google scholar
  • Oral, N. Öztürk, B. (2006). The Turkish Strait, maritime safety, legal and environmental aspects. Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Istanbul: Publication No: 25 google scholar
  • Pedrozo, R. (2022), “Dangerous Waters: Use of Naval Mines in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict” Stable URL: https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/ 2022/06/15/guest-post-prof-pete-pedrozo-on-dangerous-waters-use-of-naval-mines-in-the-russia-ukraine-conflict/ Accessed: 8-8-2022 google scholar
  • Ralston, S. (2011). Pragmatism in international relations theory and research. Universidad del Norte Colombia, eidos n° 14, 72-105 google scholar
  • Reuters (2022). Turkey detonates stray naval mine in the Black Sea amid Ukraine war Stable URL: https://www.reuters.com/world/ europe/turkey-finds-third-stray-naval-mine-black-sea-amid-ukraine-war-2022-04-06/ Accessed: 8-8-2022 google scholar
  • Rusli, M. (2012). A Historical Overview on the Legal Status of Straits Used for International Navigation under International Law. AALCO Journal of International Law, 1(2), 104-131. google scholar
  • SarıkaYa, B. (2017). Evaluation of The Ukrainian Crisis Within The Context of Regional Security Complex Theory. Afro Eurasian Studies Journa, 6(1-2), Spring & Fall 2017, 33-53 google scholar
  • Shahi D. K. (2022). The battleground of the black sea: a geopolitical analysis. Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 12(5). google scholar
  • Shelest. H., Gaber, Y., & FYlYpenko, A. (2020). Black sea policY of Ukraine. UA: Ukraine AnalYtica, pp. 37-42 google scholar
  • Snegur, J. (2014). Les avantages strategiques de La Crimee. Outre-Terre 2014/4 (N° 41), 316 -329 . google scholar
  • Sprance, W. R. (2004). The Russo-Japanese war: The emergence of Japanese imperial power. Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, Spring 2004, 6(3). google scholar
  • Sthanapati, J. & ChattopadhYaY, K. (2021). “Scientific Discoveries, TechnoLogicaL Innovations, and Modern Warfare” sta-bLeURL: https://fiLe:///C:/Users/mbdiop/DownLoads/ScientificDiscoveriesTechnoLogicaLInnovationsandModernWarfare%20(1). pdf Accessed: 25-06-2022 google scholar
  • Treves, T. (2008). United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. United Nations AudiovisuaL LibrarY of InternationaL Law, StabLe URL: https://www.un.org/Law/avL Accessed: 25-06-2022 google scholar
  • VasiLiev, A. (2010). The Black Sea region in Turkish foreign poLicy strategy: Russia & Turkey on the Black Sea. Carnegie Moscow Center Black Sea PeacebuiLding Network Russian Expert Group Report No. 2010/2. google scholar
  • Vego, M. (2010). On NavaL Warfare. Journal in the Swedish Navy, 1, 73-92. google scholar
  • Wojtowicz, N. (2015). Strategic significance of the Crimean annexation. Panorama Journal, pp. 89-98 google scholar
  • YaYcı, C. (2022). “Do Ukraine mines reach Istanbul?!” StabLe URL: https://www.aLjazeera.net Accessed: 27-07-2022 google scholar
There are 41 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Political Science (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Mouhamed Bachır Dıop 0000-0003-2273-4243

Publication Date April 11, 2025
Submission Date April 4, 2024
Acceptance Date October 2, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 34 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Dıop, M. B. (2025). The Russian-Ukraine War and The Uses of Naval Mines in the Black Sea the Legal Consequences in Turkey. Siyasal: Journal of Political Sciences, 34(1), 16-28. https://doi.org/10.26650/siyasal.2025.34.1464987
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