In the early hours of June 5, 2026, two cargo vessels—the 'Natra' and 'Zirkon'—were struck by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Taganrog Gulf of the Sea of Azov. The ships were traveling in ballast from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don to load grain when the attacks occurred, resulting in the deaths of five crew members.
According to information provided by the Operative Information Center-OMM, the incident was reported by the Taman Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center at 04:04 Baku time.
"The 'Natra' vessel was hit by four UAV strikes, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. The crew managed to extinguish the fire, and the vessel remains afloat but requires towing. The 'Zirkon' vessel sustained four strikes to its superstructure, leading to the deaths of three crew members. The crew abandoned the ship using lifeboats, and a fire remains active on board," the operative report stated.
The 'Natra' cargo ship, sailing under the Belize flag, carried a crew of 12, while the 'Zirkon', sailing under the Palau flag, carried 14. All crew members were Azerbaijani citizens employed as individual contract sailors. Neither vessel is owned by the Republic of Azerbaijan, and both were operating under foreign flags.
The attacks occurred approximately one hour apart, with the 'Natra' struck at 00:45 and the 'Zirkon' at 01:55. Surviving crew members were rescued by three passing vessels and transported to the port of Yeysk by dawn. Two tugboats have been dispatched to recover the damaged 'Natra' vessel.
Maritime security in the Sea of Azov has become a significant concern for international shipping lanes in the region. The area, which serves as a critical corridor for grain exports and commercial logistics, has seen increased military activity, heightening risks for civilian merchant vessels operating in these waters.
