New Delhi: India Monday summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk and lodged a strong protest against the death of an Indian seafarer due to an attack by Ukraine on a civilian merchant vessel in Russian territorial waters.
Ukraine struck the MV OMORFI on 18 July, while the ship was transiting the Black Sea, in Russian territorial waters. Three Indian nationals were amongst the crew of 10. One Indian seafarer was killed in the attack. India’s Embassy in Russia has been in touch with the authorities over the case.
“India unequivocally condemns such attacks targeting commercial shipping and placing the lives of innocent civilian crew members at risk. It is a matter of serious concern that the freedom of navigation and international commerce is facing increasing threats,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement Friday.
While the Indian government has not released the name of the deceased seafarer on the MV OMORFI, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has identified the individual as Chief Officer Sagar Gupta.
Following the strike on the vessel, Russia struck the MV GOLDEN LEO, which was departing the Ukrainian Port of Odesa on 19 July. In that attack four Indian seafarers were killed. India summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires (Cd’A) Vladimir Ladonov last week to protest the attack on the MV GOLDEN LEO.
At least five Indian seafarers have been killed in the Black Sea last week. In another attack the MV AGN Ragnar—a Palau-flagged cargo ship—was struck near the port of Odesa late Saturday evening. Two Indian seafarers remain missing from the Ragnar.
Hours after the Ragnar was struck, the MEA Sunday urged seafarers to “carefully assess the prevailing security risks before accepting” assignments on vessels operating in the Black Sea region.
Shortly before Polishchuk was summoned by the MEA, the Embassy of Ukraine to India issued its own statement on the prevailing situation in the Black Sea region. The Ukrainian Embassy highlighted that Kyiv “has consistently warned its international partners, including senior Indian officials, about the growing threats to civilian navigation arising from Russia’s actions in the Black Sea.”
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin has maintained that Moscow is “in touch” with New Delhi, but any and all vessels carrying military equipment to Ukraine continue to be open to potential attacks from the Russian military.
“The security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remains highly volatile due to the ongoing conflict. Commercial vessels operating in or transiting these waters are facing significant security risks, including missile and drone attacks. Since April 2026, there has been an increase in the number of such incidents on commercial vessels, which has also resulted in the tragic loss of 5 Indian lives,” the Indian advisory issued by the external affairs ministry said.
The advisory added: “Indian nationals intending to undertake employment on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the conflict-affected region are advised to carefully assess the prevailing security risks before accepting such assignments. Those who choose to undertake such employment should exercise the utmost caution.”
“In addition to the letter of condolence addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr. Andrii Sybiha, to the Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Embassy of Ukraine extends its profound sympathy to the families of the Indian seafarers who lost their lives as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea,” the statement issued by the Embassy added.
The Embassy’s statement further added that Kyiv has proposed discussions between Jaiashankar and Sybiha to “discuss in detail the current security situation,” in the Black Sea. Ukraine has continued to maintain that it will continue to disrupt the logistical routes used to sustain the Russian military in the ongoing war between the two countries.
The Black Sea has emerged in recent weeks as a growing hotspot for attacks on civilian merchant vessels. At least 17 Indian seafarers have been killed since February 2026, when accounting for deaths due to the war in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war. India has summoned the top American and Russian diplomats, and the Ambassador of Iran over attacks on merchant vessels in the last couple of months.
The multiple casualties emerging in the Black Sea comes almost three years after Kyiv unveiled its Black Sea corridor, which allowed for merchant vessels to carry goods to and from Ukraine as merchant vessels hugged the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania before it reached open Ukrainian ports.
However, this summer has seen increasing disruption to civilian shipping in the region, as both countries stepped up attacks on merchant vessels. Ukraine has said that at least 28 commercial ships have been attacked in the last month, leaving at least 21 people dead including seafarers and port employees, according to reports.
For the first time since 2023, the Black Sea corridor operated by Ukraine has seen minimal ships transiting through it last week, due to the growing danger of drone and missile strikes.
(Edited by Vidhi Bhutra)
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