5 Azerbaijani Sailors Killed as Drone Attacks Hit Ships and Russian Border Region

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Moscow: Five Azerbaijani crew members were killed and three others injured after two commercial cargo ships were struck in the Sea of Azov during a wave of overnight drone attacks that also left one person dead in Russia's Belgorod region, officials said Friday.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said the casualties occurred aboard the cargo vessels Natra and Zircon in Taganrog Bay, a northeastern section of the Sea of Azov. The ships were carrying 25 Azerbaijani nationals at the time of the attack.

The ministry said Azerbaijani authorities were working with diplomatic missions and relevant agencies to assist those affected. Embassy officials from Moscow were sent to the area to monitor the condition of the injured and help return the bodies of those killed.

Azerbaijan did not identify who was responsible for the strike on the vessels.

Russian authorities have not released detailed information about the incident. However, the newspaper Izvestia, citing an unnamed source, reported that six people were hospitalized following the attack in Taganrog Bay.

The maritime strike came as Russian regions faced a broader drone assault overnight. In the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border, local authorities said a drone hit a business facility in the village of Otradovsky, killing one man and injuring another.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 123 drones across nine regions, annexed Crimea and the Sea of Azov between Thursday night and Friday morning.

The latest attacks highlight the continuing reach of drone warfare deep into Russian-controlled territory as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues.

Pic Credit: AFP