Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that five of its citizens were killed and three others injured following a drone strike on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov. The incident took place overnight on 4-5 June in the Taganrog Bay area, with Azerbaijani nationals among the crew members on board.
According to ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada, a total of 25 Azerbaijani citizens were present on the two vessels at the time of the attack. He clarified that neither of the ships was registered to Azerbaijan.
WATCH: Aftermath of Ukrainian drone strike that killed five Azerbaijani sailors on a ship in Azov Sea overnight. https://t.co/dLUefLlDXo pic.twitter.com/NiEuaJ1ABE
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“According to information received from the Russian side, five Azerbaijani citizens were killed in the attack and three others were injured. The injured have been admitted to Yeysk City Hospital,” Hajizada said.
He added that diplomatic teams had been dispatched to the area, with embassy staff from Azerbaijan in Russia traveling to assist with the situation on the ground. Authorities said consular assistance and repatriation efforts remain ongoing and under close supervision.
“The situation involving our citizens, issues related to their return home and the provision of the necessary consular assistance remain under special supervision,” Hajizada stated.
The attack reportedly targeted vessels identified as the Natra and Zirkon in Taganrog Bay. Although Azerbaijani nationals were part of the crew, officials stressed that the ships themselves were not Azerbaijani-owned.
The incident came amid reports from Russian media of drone strikes targeting multiple vessels in the broader Sea of Azov region, including tankers and bulk carriers operating in areas near Mariupol and Berdyansk.
Ukrainian sources later claimed responsibility for strikes against several ships, describing them as part of operations targeting vessels allegedly involved in transporting grain and military cargo. Ukrainian drone forces indicated that the targeted ships had been operating in occupied ports and nearby waters.
Russian officials, meanwhile, blamed Ukraine for the attacks on civilian shipping and expressed condolences to the families of the Azerbaijani victims. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Moscow was aware of the circumstances and pointed to what he described as repeated drone use against maritime targets in the region.
The situation remains under investigation as diplomatic and military accounts continue to differ over the nature and responsibility for the strikes.