Two Azerbaijani citizens killed in Russian attack on tugboat in Black Sea

Two Azerbaijani citizens have been killed and two others injured in a Russian strike on a civilian vessel in the Black Sea.

Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan; an Azerbaijani media outlet 1news; the public union Support for Azerbaijani Seafarers

Details: The foreign cargo vessel Tedy, whose crew included Azerbaijani citizens, came under drone attack in the Black Sea on 9 September.

Quote: "We have received reports that Azerbaijani citizens Aslan Aliyev and Asim Gasimov were killed in the attack, while Imran Novruzov and Rauf Aliyev were injured. The injured were taken to hospital in the city of Chornomorsk, Ukraine."

More details: The ministry said it is taking steps to repatriate the injured citizens after they undergo medical examination and treatment and will arrange the necessary documents for those killed.

The Somalia-flagged vessel Tedy was attacked twice. The second attack took place at night, when the vessel was heading to the port of Constanța. The crew members were killed during the second attack.

It was also reported that the tugboat Tedy belongs to Mert Marine Corporation.

The public union Support for Azerbaijani Seafarers said the vessel had a crew of 10 on board: four Azerbaijani citizens, three Turkish citizens, two German citizens and one Ukrainian citizen.

Background:

• The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine has appealed to the International Maritime Organisation over a sharp deterioration in safety and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. During July and the first half of August 2026, Russia attacked 52 civilian vessels.
• It was reported earlier that the intensity of Russian strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure continue to increase: 67 attacks on ports, 35 attacks on vessels in port waters and 22 attacks on vessels travelling through the Ukrainian maritime corridor were recorded in July.
• It was also reported that as of 23 July, inbound vessel traffic to Ukraine's Black Sea ports has been suspended due to the threat of Russian attacks. This followed weeks of Russia's air attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

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