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Indian seafarer was killed in an attack on a commercial vessel (Img: X)
New Delhi: India has summoned the Ukrainian envoy after an Indian seafarer was killed in an attack on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea, triggering a strong diplomatic response from New Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the incident and called for greater protection of civilian shipping in conflict zones.
The incident took place on July 18 when the merchant vessel MV OMORFI came under attack while travelling through the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters.
Also Read: MEA Issues Advisory For Indian Seafarers: What’s Happening In the Black Sea?
According to the MEA, the ship had 10 crew members onboard, including three Indian nationals. One of them, identified as Sagar Gupta, lost his life in the attack, while the other two Indian crew members were reported to be safe.
The ministry expressed condolences to the family of the deceased sailor and assured that Indian authorities were monitoring the situation.
The MEA strongly criticised attacks targeting commercial vessels carrying civilian crew members. The ministry said such incidents threaten freedom of navigation and disrupt international trade routes.
India urged all parties involved in the conflict to respect international obligations and ensure the safety of maritime movement and global commerce.
Following the incident, India summoned the Ukrainian envoy to convey its concerns over the attack. The move comes amid increasing risks faced by commercial vessels operating in and around the Black Sea due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Indian government has repeatedly maintained that civilian ships and non-combatant crew members should not become targets during military conflicts.
The latest incident follows another deadly attack on the MV Golden Leo, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel that was targeted after leaving Ukraine’s Odesa port. The attack reportedly killed four Indian nationals onboard.
After the incident, India had urged all sides to protect merchant vessels and provided assistance to affected Indian citizens.
The Embassy of India in Ukraine continues to coordinate assistance for Indian nationals affected by security incidents in the region. The government has also advised Indian seafarers to carefully evaluate risks before accepting employment on vessels operating in the Black Sea.
India has asked maritime workers to ensure their contracts follow international safety standards and remain in contact with Indian missions for any assistance.
