Five Azerbaijani sailors were killed after two cargo vessels were hit by drones in the Sea of Azov near the Russian port of Taganrog, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
The vessels, identified as the dry cargo ships Natra and Zirkon, were reportedly travelling from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don to load grain when the incident occurred overnight on Friday, according to media reports.
Natra, sailing under the flag of Belize, is said to have struck several times, killing two crew members. A fire on board was later brought under control, while the vessel remained afloat but reportedly lost propulsion.
The second vessel, Zirkon, registered under the flag of Palau, also reportedly sustained multiple strikes. Three crew members were reported to have been killed after a fire broke out on board, prompting the remaining crew to abandon the ship before emergency responders arrived in the area.
