Ukraine delegate punches Russian at Black Sea nations assembly in Ankara

After his Ukrainian flag was taken away to prevent him from photobombing a video interview with Russia’s lead delegate, a Ukrainian delegate punched a Russian delegate in the face during a Black Sea nations meeting in Turkey’s capital on Thursday.

Olesandr Marikovski shared a Facebook video of himself hitting the Russian and retrieving the blue and yellow flag. The incident occurred in a legislative hallway during the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) meeting.

Earlier in the day, some Ukrainian delegates fought with security personnel who tried to remove them from a demonstration, shouting and waving their flags next to Russia’s senior delegate as she addressed the assembly.

The Turkish parliament’s head, Mustafa Sentop, chastised the disturbance with photos on its website.

“This behavior disrupts Turkey’s peaceful environment,” he remarked.

On Thursday, Russian drones attacked Kyiv while BSEC delegates gathered. The war, which has destroyed Ukrainian cities, killed hundreds, and displaced millions, has no peace negotiations.