The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, over the July 18 attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI, in which an Indian national was killed.
“The Ministry conveyed its serious concern over the incident and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms, underscoring their adverse impact on the safety of maritime navigation, freedom of navigation and international commerce,” the MEA said in a statement.
It said the Ambassador was asked to convey India’s “strong concerns” to the Ukrainian authorities over the targeting of commercial vessels.
“Such actions, which endanger the lives of innocent civilian seafarers, are unacceptable and must be avoided,” the ministry said.
The MEA had earlier, in a statement issued on July 24, condemned attacks on commercial shipping and urged all concerned parties to uphold their international obligations to ensure the safety and security of maritime navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global commerce.
According to the ministry, MV OMORFI was attacked while transiting the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters. The vessel had 10 crew members on board, including three Indian nationals.
“As per available information, one Indian national tragically lost his life in the attack. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. The other two Indian nationals on board are reported to be safe,” the MEA said.
Since July 18, five Indian nationals have lost their lives in separate attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
On July 20, the MEA said four Indian nationals were killed in an attack on MV Golden Leo, which had departed from Odesa port in Ukraine.
According to the ministry, the vessel had 17 crew members, including five Indians. Four Indian nationals were killed, while another was hospitalised in critical condition.
Separately, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Sunday said four Indian nationals were on board MV AGN Ragnar, which was struck at the Port of Odesa on Saturday.
According to the Embassy, two of the Indian crew members have been confirmed safe, while information is awaited about the remaining two. Search and rescue operations are underway, and the Embassy said it is in constant touch with the concerned authorities.
“Embassy of India in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation following the incident involving MV AGN Ragnar, which was struck at the Port of Odesa on 25 July. Four Indian nationals were on board the vessel. As per the latest information, two have been confirmed safe, and information is awaited regarding the other two nationals. Search and rescue operations are underway. The Embassy is in constant touch with the concerned authorities,” the Embassy said in a post on X.
Against this backdrop, the MEA on Sunday issued a detailed advisory urging Indian nationals considering employment on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea region to carefully assess the prevailing security situation before accepting such assignments.
The ministry said the security environment in the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remains “highly volatile” due to the ongoing conflict, with commercial vessels continuing to face significant threats from missile and drone attacks. It noted that attacks on merchant vessels have increased since April 2026, resulting in the deaths of five Indian nationals.
The advisory asked prospective seafarers to obtain comprehensive information from employers, recruitment agencies and ship operators about intended routes, ports of call, security arrangements, insurance coverage and emergency response procedures before joining vessels operating in the conflict-affected region.
It also urged them to ensure that employment contracts comply with international maritime standards and include adequate provisions for medical care, evacuation, repatriation and compensation.
Indian crew members were advised to keep their families informed of their movements, maintain regular communication, and follow advisories issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), including its latest Maritime Security Advisory issued on July 23.
