Key facts
- Five Azerbaijani citizens were killed and three injured in attacks on two cargo vessels.
- The attacks occurred in Taganrog Bay in the Sea of Azov.
- Ukraine claimed its drones struck five ships involved in stealing grain and transferring military cargo.
- The attacked vessels did not belong to Azerbaijan, but their crews included 25 Azerbaijani citizens.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry reported on Friday that five of its citizens were killed and three others injured in attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov. The ministry stated that the crews of the vessels, which were hit in Taganrog Bay, included a total of 25 Azerbaijani citizens, but the ships themselves were not Azerbaijani-owned. Earlier on Friday, Ukraine announced that its drones had targeted five ships in the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk, as well as in the coastal waters of Russian-controlled territories. Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukrainian drone forces, claimed that his drones had successfully hit dry cargo ships and a tanker. He stated these vessels were involved in the 'stealing' of Ukrainian grain and the transfer of military cargo and fuel, noting that the ships had their names painted over and their radars turned off.