Drone strikes vessel carrying Azerbaijani citizens near Odesa

Drone strikes vessel carrying Azerbaijani citizens near Odesa
A civilian vessel catches fire after Russian strike near Odesa, Ukraine, 14 July, 2026.
Reuters

A Turkish-owned civilian merchant vessel carrying 11 Azerbaijani crew members was struck by a drone near Ukraine's Odesa coast on 14 July. Azerbaijani authorities said all crew members except the captain have been brought ashore, while search operations for the missing captain continue.

The Atlas Bey, a civilian merchant vessel owned by Türkiye's Okean Maritime, was hit by a drone near the coast of Odesa at around 3:15 p.m. local time (GMT+3) on 14 July, according to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

"There were 11 Azerbaijani citizens among the crew members. Except for the ship's captain, who is also an Azerbaijani national, the rest of the crew have been brought ashore in Odesa. Their condition is assessed as satisfactory," the ministry said in a statement.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the missing captain.

Embassy providing consular support

Azerbaijan's Embassy in Ukraine is maintaining contact with relevant authorities and taking necessary steps to provide consular assistance to the Azerbaijani citizens affected by the incident.

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