Ukrainian deputies also battled security agents in Ankara who tried to pull them away as they protested against Russian officials.
A Ukrainian delegate punched a Russian delegate in the face at a meeting of Black Sea nations after his Ukrainian flag was snatched to stop him from photobombing a video interview.
Oleksandr Marikovski posted a video on his Facebook page on Thursday in which he slaps the Russian and raises the blue and yellow flag.
The incident in Turkey took place in a corridor of the parliament building in Ankara, where the meeting of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) was held.
Earlier in the day, some Ukrainian deputies fought with security agents who tried to pull them away as they staged a protest, shouting and holding their flags next to Russia’s leading deputy as she attempted to address the assembly.
Photos of the disturbances were posted by the Turkish parliament on its website and Mustafa Sentop, the head of parliament, issued a harsh rebuke.
“I condemn this behavior that disturbs the peaceful environment that Turkey is trying to establish,” he said.
As representatives of the 13 countries gathered in the BSEC, Russian drones continued to attack the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. There are currently no peace talks to end the war, which has devastated Ukrainian towns and cities, killed thousands and displaced millions from their homes.
A scuffle broke out between Ukrainian and Russian deputies at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Türkiye’s capital, Ankara.
Tensions ran high after Ukrainians interrupted a Russian official’s speech👇 pic.twitter.com/AzZiQi2B6L
— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) May 4, 2023