Cyprus has officially informed the United Nations of Turkey’s latest violations of its national airspace, territorial waters, and the international air traffic regulations of the Republic of Cyprus, which were recorded during the period from March to May 2026.

In a letter dated June 22, 2026, addressed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations, Ambassador Maria Michael, stated that she wished to draw his attention to the “recent violations of Cyprus’s national airspace, international air traffic regulations in the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR), Cyprus’s territorial waters, and the illegal use of closed ports and airports in Cyprus by Turkey’s air and naval forces.”

According to the letter, “a total of 520 air and 23 naval violations were recorded during this period.” Cyprus further notes that “103 of the 520 airspace violations were carried out by Turkish military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), while 196 were carried out by Turkish armed military fighter aircraft.”

The letter states that, in addition to these recorded incidents, “the Turkish occupying forces continue to violate the military status quo on the island on an almost daily basis” and to “further strengthen their military infrastructure in the occupied areas.”

Ms. Michael emphasizes that these actions “demonstrate once again Turkey’s ongoing violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the Republic of Cyprus,” adding that they are “contrary to the United Nations Charter and international law.”

The Permanent Representative of Cyprus also noted that these actions “highlight the occupying power’s persistent aggressive behavior” and “seriously undermine the sense of security of all Cypriots.” She added that “they hinder efforts aimed at creating conditions conducive to the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

The annexes to the letter provide a detailed monthly record of the incidents. In March 2026, Cyprus recorded airspace violations involving Turkish military UAVs, helicopters, fighter jets, and other military aircraft. The annex refers, among other things, to eight BAYRAKTAR TB-2 Turkish military unmanned aerial vehicles, four ANKA Turkish military UAVs, two Turkish AKSUNGUR military UAVs, seven Turkish AS-532 military helicopters, and thirty-six Turkish F-16 military fighter jets. According to the annex, all of these “violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus,” entering “the Nicosia FIR and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus without diplomatic authorization or communication with the Nicosia Area Control Center.”

For April 2026, the letter records further airspace violations, including twenty-two Turkish military BAYRAKTAR TB-2 UAVs, thirteen Turkish military ANKA UAVs, fifteen Turkish military AS-532 helicopters, and ninety-four Turkish military F-16 fighter jets. The annex reiterates that they entered the Nicosia FIR and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus “without diplomatic authorization or communication with the Nicosia Area Control Center.”

In May 2026, the annex documents additional incidents involving twenty-three Turkish BAYRAKTAR TB-2 military UAVs, twenty-one Turkish ANKA military UAVs, five Turkish military AKINCI UAVs, five Turkish military AKSUNGUR UAVs, and sixty-six Turkish military F-16 fighter aircraft, which are described as having “violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus.”

The naval annexes also document violations during the period from March to May 2026. In March, Cyprus reported that Turkish vessels, including the “TUFAN,” “KARATAS,” “OSMAN GAZI,” “ATAK,” “BAYRAKTAR,” and “ZIPKIN,” “violated the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus” and “illegally used the closed port of Famagusta while participating in a naval operation by the occupying forces.”

In April, the naval violations involved, among others, the vessels “ZIPKIN,” “KILIÇ,” “KARATAS,” “KDZ EREGLI,” and the submarine “GUR.” The annex states that these vessels “violated the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus,” with some “illegally” using the “closed port of Famagusta” and others the “closed port of Kyrenia.”

In May, Cyprus recorded violations involving the “KILIÇ,” “KARATAS,” “KDZ EREGLI,” and the submarine “INONU.” According to the annex, these vessels “violated the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus” and “illegally used the closed port of Famagusta” or “the closed port of Kyrenia,” while participating “in a naval operation by the occupying forces.”

Despite the allegations, Ms. Michael reiterated that Cyprus “remains fully committed” to supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy “with the aim of resuming negotiations and achieving a viable, comprehensive, and fair settlement.”

The letter clarifies that such a settlement should be based “on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality” and “in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions”.

Source: CNA