Russia attacked a tugboat near Odesa: two Azerbaijani citizens killed

As a result of a Russian attack on the tugboat TEDY in the Black Sea near Odesa, two Azerbaijani citizens were killed, and two more Azerbaijani sailors suffered burns. The Russian Defense Ministry separately reported the strike on a tugboat escorting vessels to the port of Odesa, but did not specify the vessel's name.

The information about the dead and injured was also confirmed by the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

According to the public association "Support to Azerbaijani Sailors", TEDY was attacked on the morning of September 9 near Odesa. After the first strike, the damaged vessel headed towards the Romanian Constanța, but at night it was subjected to two more drone attacks.

The Azerbaijani sailors Aslan Aliyev and Asim Gasimov were killed as a result of the strikes. Two other Azerbaijani citizens - Imran Novruzov and Rauf Aliyev - suffered burns and were hospitalized. The death and injury of its citizens was later confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

According to Azerbaijani media, there were ten crew members on board: four citizens of Azerbaijan, three of Turkey, two of Germany and one citizen of Ukraine. TEDY is owned by Mert Marine Corporation and sails under the flag of Somalia. 

Russia claimed strikes on tugboats

On September 9, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian military forces struck a tugboat at sea escorting vessels to the port of Odesa. The Russian agency did not disclose the name of the attacked vessel. According to The Insider, the type of vessel, area and time of the attack coincide with reports of the strike on TEDY.

On the morning of September 10, the Russian Defense Ministry again announced strikes near Odesa. This time the agency claimed that two cargo ships and a tugboat escorting them were attacked during their sea passage. Russian claims about the nature of the cargoes of the attacked vessels are not independently confirmed.

Thus, the Russian side actually twice - on September 9 and 10 - reported the striking of a tugboat in the area of the sea route to Odesa. At the same time, Russia has not officially identified it as TEDY.

Based on materials from: The Insider, Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine