Baku, Azerbaijan – The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that two of its citizens were killed in a drone attack targeting a cargo ship in the Black Sea. This was reported by authorities in Baku.
The ministry said in a statement that two other crew members were injured in the attack. They were taken to a hospital in the Ukrainian city of Chornomorsk for treatment.
Attack targets cargo ship
The attack, according to Azerbaijani authorities, occurred on Wednesday. This comes amid escalating tensions in the Black Sea region stemming from the Russian-Ukrainian war. The war’s repercussions have also extended to shipping and facilities related to grain and commodity exports.
Russia and Ukraine have recently exchanged attacks on port facilities and cargo ships. As a result, the risks to trade and maritime transport in the region have increased.
Russian strikes on Ukrainian positions
In a related development, the Russian Defense Ministry announced it had targeted a facility in the port of Izmail in the Odessa region. It stated that the facility was being used to receive military shipments provided by Western countries to the Ukrainian armed forces.
The ministry added that its forces also targeted a Ukrainian navy patrol boat in the Black Sea. It noted that the boat was being used to escort ships carrying military cargo.
Ship targeted in Chernomorsk
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that drones targeted the dry cargo ship Mavka, which was docked in the port of Chernomorsk, south of Odessa. It claimed the ship was carrying military equipment and supplies.
These strikes are part of an ongoing escalation targeting port infrastructure and vessels linked to the Ukrainian military effort. This comes amid concerns that the attacks could impact the safety of navigation and trade in the Black Sea.
