Russia on Friday accused Ukraine of killing Azerbaijani crew members in a drone attack targeting two cargo ships bound for a Russian port. Moscow claims the operation resulted in the deaths of Azerbaijani nationals aboard the ships, while Baku reports at least five Azerbaijani citizens killed in the incident.
In its version of events, the Russian government claims that the ships were civilian cargo vessels heading towards a Russian port when they were attacked. Moscow presents this attack as an operation that resulted in casualties among the crews, including foreign nationals.
Ukraine, for its part, indicated earlier on Friday that its drones had targeted five ships in the ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk, as well as in the coastal waters of Russian-controlled areas in the Sea of Azov. Kyiv has not confirmed the Russian accusations regarding civilian casualties or the nationalities of the crew members involved.
The events are taking place in the highly militarized Sea of Azov region, where Russian and Ukrainian forces have been vying for control of port infrastructure and shipping lanes since the beginning of the conflict. The ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk are regularly cited as strategic points in military and logistical operations.
The involvement of Azerbaijani nationals in this incident adds a sensitive diplomatic dimension, as Azerbaijan may be compelled to respond to the contradictory statements from both sides. As of now, no independent confirmation has been available to establish the precise circumstances of the attack or the exact number of victims.
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