Nineteen Azerbaijani citizens, who were crew members on vessels damaged by drone attacks in the Sea of Azov, have been repatriated to Azerbaijan.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan confirmed the safe departure of the citizens, who are expected to arrive in Baku later today.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously reported that on June 5, drone strikes targeted the cargo ships "Natra" and "Zirkon" in the Sea of Azov. The incident resulted in four fatalities and four injuries among the 25 Azerbaijani nationals aboard the vessels. The Ministry clarified that the affected ships are not registered to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The evacuation process was coordinated through diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of the remaining crew members. The Sea of Azov has remained a high-risk zone due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has significantly impacted maritime logistics and civilian safety in the region since early 2022.
