BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 6. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has expressed condolences over the deaths and injuries of Azerbaijani citizens during military operations in the Black Sea.
He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov in Kyiv.
Sybiha extended his deepest condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured Azerbaijani citizens.
On July 14, the “Atlas Bey” civilian merchant vessel owned by Türkiye-based Okean Maritime came under attack by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the coast of Odesa, Ukraine.
Eleven members of the vessel’s crew were Azerbaijani citizens. Following the attack, 10 Azerbaijani citizens, excluding the vessel’s captain, were evacuated to shore in Odesa and later sent to Azerbaijan via Türkiye after transiting through Moldova.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ukraine maintained constant contact with relevant authorities over the incident and provided the citizens with the necessary consular assistance.
Later, the body of the vessel’s captain, Samad Nasrullayev, was found and transported to Odesa. On July 17, following consular and coordination efforts by the embassy, his remains were sent to Azerbaijan.
In a statement issued in connection with the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that despite repeated warnings, cases continue to occur where Azerbaijani citizens are present in areas affected by armed conflicts and high-risk zones, resulting in deaths or injuries.
The ministry noted that ongoing hostilities in the Black Sea region, existing threats to civilian shipping, and the use of UAVs, missiles and other weapons continue to make the security situation in the area highly sensitive.
The Foreign Ministry urged Azerbaijani citizens to refrain from travelling to areas where military operations are ongoing or where the security situation remains unstable, from seeking employment in such areas, and from working aboard transport vehicles operating along these routes, including maritime vessels.
The ministry called on citizens to strictly follow official travel advisories and, when necessary, contact Azerbaijan’s diplomatic missions and consulates for assistance.
