Five Azerbaijani sailors killed in Sea of Azov drone strikes
Five Azerbaijani sailors killed as cargo ships struck in Sea of Azov
Five sailors died after two cargo vessels were struck by drones in the Sea of Azov near the Russian port of Taganrog, according to Azerbaijan's foreign ministry.
The dry cargo ships Natra and Zirkon were traveling from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don to load grain when the incident occurred overnight Friday. The Belize-flagged Natra sustained multiple strikes, killing two crew members and catching fire before losing propulsion. The Palau-registered Zirkon also suffered multiple impacts, resulting in three crew deaths after a fire broke out. The remaining crew abandoned the vessel before emergency responders arrived.
Both vessels remained in the area following the reported drone attacks.