The number of Azerbaijani citizens killed in the Sea of Azov has been clarified.
Four Azerbaijani citizens were killed in a drone attack on cargo ships in the Sea of Azov, and a fifth was identified as a Russian citizen. Two of the four wounded have already been discharged from the hospital in Yeysk.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on the night of June 5, drone attacks were carried out on two foreign cargo ships in the Sea of Azov, with 25 Azerbaijani citizens on board. The Russian side reported the death of five Azerbaijani citizens, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.
Another four Azerbaijani citizens were wounded and hospitalized in Yeysk. The condition of two was assessed as moderate, and the other two were in satisfactory condition. Emin Valehov has problems with his right ear, Namig Jafarli has hearing loss in both ears, and Rashad Madatkhanov suffered a head injury. The health condition of the fourth victim, Samid Ibadzade, has not been reported.
According to updated information, four of the 25 Azerbaijani citizens were injured in the drone attack on the cargo ships Natra and Zirkon, and four are presumed dead, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.
Another person, who was previously mistakenly listed as a deceased Azerbaijani citizen, is in fact a Russian citizen and is not of Azerbaijani descent, the ministry explained.
"The bodies of the deceased Azerbaijani citizens, Rajab Ahadov, born in 1976, and Muhammad Aliyev, born in 1997, have been found. Measures are currently being taken to return their bodies to their homeland. It should be noted that the Zirkon, which was carrying two other Azerbaijani citizens whose deaths were previously reported, remains at the scene due to an explosion threat. Russian rescue services are carrying out measures to "ensuring the safety and towing of the vessel to the port. Only after the search operations are completed will it be possible to provide precise information about their fate," the ministry's statement was quoted as saying by APA.
Two of the injured, Samid Ibadzade and Rashad Madatkhanov, have already been discharged from the Yeysk hospital, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.
The rescued citizens have been accommodated in a hotel in Yeysk.
"The condition of two more injured, Emin Valehov (born in 2002) and Namig Jafarli (born in 1999), is assessed as good. After completing their treatment, they will also be discharged. Employees of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia continue to work on the ground and provide the necessary support to Azerbaijani citizens. All of our rescued citizens have been accommodated in a hotel in Yeysk and are in contact with their families. Citizens who wish to return to their homeland and who have lost their documents have already been issued "relevant certificates for return," the ministry reported.
As a reminder, the Natra, a Belize-flagged vessel traveling from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don to load grain, was attacked by drones. Two people died as a result, and the fire that broke out on board was extinguished by the crew. Drone strikes were also recorded on the Zircon, a Palau-flagged vessel, killing three crew members.
There were 12 people on board the Natra, and 14 on the Zircon. The Azerbaijani citizens were working on the vessels under private contracts. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Ukraine was behind the attacks.