UAV event in Arnavutköy-Karaburun area, Turkey on Mon 20th July 2026

The drone washed ashore between the beaches of Arnavutköy-Karaburun and Çatalca-Ormanlı. The suspicious object was noticed by locals, who promptly reported it to officials.

Units from the Marmara and Bosphorus Coast Guard, along with explosive ordnance disposal teams, arrived at the scene.

Preliminary findings indicate that the object was the wreckage of a kamikaze drone that crashed before washing ashore.

During the inspection, explosive ordnance disposal experts discovered explosive material inside the drone. The area was immediately cordoned off, and the device was destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Images released from the scene show the drone's fuselage marked with the Russian letter "Ы."

The aircraft also resembles Russia's Gerbera drone, which Moscow uses as a decoy for air defense systems, as well as for reconnaissance and strike missions. However, the origin of the drone has not yet been officially confirmed.

In June, another unidentified drone washed ashore on a Turkish beach. After being examined by specialists, it was sent to Ankara for forensic analysis.

According to preliminary assessments, that drone may also have been of Russian origin.