Drone attack on cargo ships in Sea of Azov kills 5 Azerbaijani citizens

Five Azerbaijani citizens were killed and three others wounded after two foreign cargo vessels came under a drone attack overnight in the Taganrog Bay area of the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada identified the vessels as Natra and Zirkon, which were carrying a total of 25 Azerbaijani nationals among their crews. “The two cargo ships are not owned by the Azerbaijani state. According to information provided by Russian authorities, five Azerbaijani citizens were killed and three others wounded. The injured crew members were hospitalized in the Russian city of Yeysk,” he said.

Consular response

The ministry said it is in contact with relevant state institutions, diplomatic missions, and competent authorities of the countries involved. Several staff members from Azerbaijan’s embassy in Russia have been dispatched to the scene. “The issues related to the condition of our citizens, their repatriation and the provision of necessary consular assistance are being closely monitored,” Hajizada said. The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. No details about the circumstances of the attack or the vessels’ cargoes were immediately available.