TAGANROG BAY — A deadly overnight drone strike in the Sea of Azov has left five Azerbaijani crew members dead and three others wounded after two foreign cargo vessels were targeted in the Taganrog Bay area.

The incident, which took place in the early morning hours, has sparked a coordinated consular response from Baku as authorities work to manage the aftermath of the lethal strikes.

The vessels involved have been identified as the dry cargo ships Natra and Zirkon. According to a statement released by Aykhan Hajizada, the spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, the two ships were carrying a combined total of 25 Azerbaijani nationals among their active crews at the time of the attack.

While both ships operate under foreign flags and are not owned by the Azerbaijani state, the casualties fell heavily on the Azerbaijani crew members on board.

"According to information provided by Russian authorities, five Azerbaijani citizens were killed and three others wounded in the attack," Hajizada confirmed.

Following the strikes, emergency maritime teams evacuated the wounded survivors from the targeted area. The three injured crew members were rushed to the mainland and have since been hospitalized at the city hospital in Yeysk, Russia, where they are currently receiving medical treatment.

The strikes occurred within the context of intensifying maritime conflict in the region. Ukrainian drone forces claimed responsibility for a series of overnight operations targeting vessels in the coastal waters of Russian-controlled territories.

Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's drone forces, stated that Kyiv’s forces targeted dry cargo ships and a tanker allegedly involved in the transfer of military cargo, fuel, and illicitly transported Ukrainian grain. Brovdi noted that the targeted ships were operating with their names painted over and their radar tracking systems deactivated.

Moscow, meanwhile, heavily condemned the strike, pointing directly to Kyiv for the fatal drone deployment against merchant vessels.

The Azerbaijani government has launched an immediate diplomatic effort to support the surviving crew members and repatriate the deceased.

Several staff members from Azerbaijan's Embassy in Russia have been dispatched directly to the scene to coordinate with local emergency authorities and provide immediate consular assistance.

"The issues related to the condition of our citizens, their repatriation, and the provision of necessary consular assistance are being closely monitored," Hajizada stated, while extending the ministry's deepest condolences to the grieving families of the crew.

Investigations by regional maritime authorities are ongoing to fully assess the extent of the physical damage to the Natra and Zirkon and to secure the waters of the Taganrog Bay.