Nicosia: The Republic of Cyprus has formally reported a series of violations of its national airspace, international air traffic regulations within the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR), and its territorial waters by Turkish air and naval forces during January and February 2026. The report has been submitted to the UN Secretary-General and is being circulated as a Security Council document under symbol S/2026/240.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the letter from Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations describes these incidents as ‘further manifestations of Turkey’s ongoing unlawful actions against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus’. The document is supported by four annexes that detail ‘305 air and 33 naval violations’ during the specified period.
The letter highlights that ’81 out of the 305 air violations were conducted by Turkish unmanned aerial military vehicles (UAVs)’, with an additional ’44 by Turkish armed military fighter aircraft’. The report also notes that Turkey executed ‘unauthorised military exercises in violation of the Republic of Cyprus’ national airspace, for which it illegally issued four NOTAMS’.
The annexes further provide a detailed list of the aircraft involved in the reported incidents, including BAYRAKTAR TB-2, ANKA, AKINCI, and AKSUNGUR UAVs, F-16 and RF-4 fighter aircraft, ATR-72, CN-235, and A-400 military aircraft, as well as AS-532 and EC-135 helicopters. These aircraft reportedly entered the Nicosia FIR and the national airspace of Cyprus ‘without diplomatic permit or contacting Nicosia ACC’.
Cyprus also records repeated violations of its territorial waters by Turkish naval and auxiliary vessels, including ships such as ‘KARATAS’, ‘KILI€š¬…¡¬¡’, ‘YILDIZ’, ‘GIRESUN’, ‘TUFAN’, ‘KALKAN’, and ‘KDZ EREGLI’. These vessels ‘violated the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus’ and illegally used the closed ports of Famagusta and Kyrenia while participating in operations of the occupation forces.
The Cypriot authorities link these incidents to the ‘almost daily breaches by the Turkish occupation forces of the military status quo on the island’ and the strengthening of military infrastructure in the occupied areas. They argue that such actions ‘demonstrate, once more, Turkey’s total disregard for the Charter of the United Nations and international law’.
The letter states that these actions ‘severely undermine the sense of security of all Cypriots, while also hindering efforts aimed at creating conditions conducive to the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem’. Cyprus reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving ‘an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality’, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal invasion by Turkey. Numerous UN-backed peace talks to reunite the island under a federal roof have not yet yielded results.