Turkish Ship Hit by Drone Attack off Odesa Coast
The Turkish company-owned cargo ship Atlas Bey was hit by a drone attack off the coast of Odesa, Ukraine. While 11 Azerbaijani crew members were safely evacuated, search efforts for the ship's captain are ongoing.
The civilian cargo ship Atlas Bey, owned by a Turkish company and sailing off the coast of Odesa, Ukraine, was targeted in a drone attack. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack occurred at around 3:15 p.m. local time.
According to the ministry, 11 members of the ship's crew are Azerbaijani nationals. All Azerbaijani crew members, except the Azerbaijani captain, were safely brought ashore in Odesa, and their health condition was reported to be good. Authorities said search operations are continuing to locate the missing captain following the attack.
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the country's Embassy in Kyiv is in constant contact with the Ukrainian authorities and that efforts are continuing to provide the necessary consular assistance to the Azerbaijani citizens serving on board the vessel.
The attack comes at a time when security risks for commercial shipping in the Black Sea have once again increased, raising further concerns about maritime transportation in the region. Due to the recent increase in drone attacks targeting Odesa and nearby ports, international maritime organizations have continued to issue security warnings for merchant vessels transiting the area.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, while no official statement has yet been made regarding the extent of the damage to the vessel or the fate of the missing captain. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is closely monitoring developments and will share further information as it becomes available.
