Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry: Body of ship captain who died near Odesa found

The body of Azerbaijani national Samad Nasrullayev, the captain of the civilian merchant vessel Atlas Bey, has been recovered and transported to Odesa after the ship was hit by a drone attack near Ukraine's Odesa coast, according to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The necessary procedures will be completed before the captain's remains are sent to Azerbaijan, the MFA said.

"We express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased ship captain. May he rest in peace," the ministry said in a statement.

The Atlas Bey, owned by Turkish company Okean Maritime, came under a drone attack near the Odesa coast on July 14 at around 15:15 local time. Eleven members of the crew were Azerbaijani citizens.

Search and rescue efforts had been underway to locate the ship's captain. On July 15, ten Azerbaijani crew members were transported home via Türkiye after crossing into Moldova.