On July 14, ten Azerbaijani citizens, who were crew members of the civilian merchant vessel Atlas Bey that came under attack near the coast of Odessa, Ukraine, have been safely evacuated. The crew members were transported to Azerbaijan via Moldova and Turkey.
This information was confirmed to the Operative Information Center-OMM by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan.
The Ministry further noted that the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ukraine is actively working with relevant Ukrainian authorities to conduct search and rescue operations for the vessel's captain, who remains missing following the incident.
The Atlas Bey incident highlights the ongoing risks to civilian maritime navigation in the Black Sea region, which has been significantly impacted by the geopolitical instability in the area. Azerbaijan continues to prioritize the safety and protection of its citizens abroad, with diplomatic missions maintaining close communication with host countries to ensure the swift resolution of such emergencies.
