Baku: Nineteen Azerbaijani citizens who were crew members of vessels damaged in drone attacks in the Azov Sea on June 5 have been sent back to Azerbaijan and are expected to arrive in the country around noon on June 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the ministry reported that the bodies of Gismat Aliyev, born in 1969, and Fuad Orujov, born in 1981, were found as a result of search and rescue operations. These operations were conducted following the drone attacks that struck the vessels in the Azov Sea.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further stated that upon the completion of the relevant procedures, the bodies of the four Azerbaijani citizens whose remains have been recovered will be returned to Azerbaijan. Along with them, two citizens who stayed in the city of Yeysk to accompany the deceased are also expected to return in the coming days.