Key facts
- An Iranian commercial ship, the 'Anna', was struck by a Ukrainian drone in the Caspian Sea.
- One sailor, Nima Moradi, was killed in the attack.
- Legal action is underway against Ukraine over the incident.
- The remaining crew and the body of the deceased sailor have returned to Iran.
The crew of the Iranian commercial ship 'Anna', which was hit in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Caspian Sea, have returned to Iran, along with the body of a sailor killed in the incident. The attack, which occurred on a Saturday morning, resulted in the death of 23-year-old sailor Nima Moradi from shrapnel wounds. The ship was reportedly carrying rolled sheet iron.
Iran has condemned the attack as an act of aggression and a criminal act. Iran's Consul General in Russia's Astrakhan, Ahmad Heydarian, stated that legal action is underway against Ukraine. Iran's Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, emphasized that the vessel was civilian and not carrying military cargo. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously announced that Ukrainian forces carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea, targeting vessels involved in military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship.
Russian authorities provided assistance in the emergency response. The more severely injured crew members were prioritized for hospital transfer, while five others with lighter injuries, along with Moradi's body, were taken to the port of Olya. The remaining crew members are expected to return home once legal procedures are completed. Iran's Foreign Ministry has indicated that Ukraine's backers bear responsibility for the attack and that Iran reserves the right to respond.