Five Azerbaijani citizens killed in attack on vessels in Sea of Azov

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that five Azerbaijani citizens were killed in a drone attack on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov.

According to Aykhan Hajizada, head of the ministry’s press service department, two foreign cargo vessels carrying a total of 25 Azerbaijani citizens among their crews came under drone attack during the night of June 5.

“As a result of the attack, five of our citizens were killed and three others were injured,” the ministry said in a statement.

The injured were taken to a hospital in the city of Yeysk, according to the ministry. The Foreign Ministry noted that the vessels do not belong to Azerbaijan.

The ministry said it was coordinating with relevant state bodies, diplomatic missions and the competent authorities of the countries concerned. Several employees of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Russia have left for the scene. The repatriation of Azerbaijani citizens and the provision of necessary consular assistance are being kept under control.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin later commented on the incident on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Commenting on reports of a drone attack on cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Galuzin expressed condolences to the families of the Azerbaijani sailors who were killed.

He said Moscow was well aware of the practice of strikes against civilian vessels using aerial and naval drones.

“We know very well who is attacking peaceful civilian vessels with aerial and naval drones in the waters of the Black Sea and even the Mediterranean Sea,” the Russian diplomat said.

Galuzin blamed the Ukrainian side for such attacks, describing the Kyiv regime as dangerous to those around it. He gave no further details.

Earlier, the Ukrainian military said it had carried out drone strikes on vessels in the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk, as well as in the coastal waters of Russian-controlled territories.
 

N.Tebrizli