Somali-Flagged Vessel Hit by Drones near Odesa, Killing Two Sailors

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ODESA, Ukraine: Two Azerbaijani sailors have been killed and two others injured after a Somali-flagged tug was reportedly struck by drones near Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa.

The vessel, TEDY, was operating in the Black Sea when it came under attack on 9 September, according to reports from Azerbaijani sources.

Ten crew members were reportedly aboard, including sailors from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Germany and Ukraine. The four casualties were all Azerbaijani nationals.

TEDY is a 30-metre tug and supply vessel operated by Turkey-based Mert Marine Corporation and registered under the Somali flag.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on the same day that its forces had struck a tug escorting cargo vessels in the Odesa area.

However, Moscow did not identify the vessel, and there has been no independent confirmation that the Russian statement referred specifically to TEDY.

The attack comes as commercial shipping continues to operate around Odesa and neighbouring Black Sea ports despite the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The ports are an important part of Ukraine’s maritime trade network, handling commercial cargo and supporting the movement of essential goods.

The safety of shipping in the Black Sea has become an increasingly important concern since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Commercial vessels and port infrastructure have been exposed to missile and drone attacks, while crews from different countries continue to operate in the area.

The incident involving TEDY also illustrates the international nature of Black Sea shipping: although the vessel is Somali-flagged and Turkish-operated, the sailors killed and injured were Azerbaijani nationals.

The incident draws attention to the Somalia’s role as a flag state in international commercial shipping, while also highlighting the risks faced by vessels and seafarers operating in conflict-affected waters.