New Delhi, July 30, 2026

The safety of Indian merchant seafarers operating in conflict-hit waters has once again come into focus as Ukraine called on India to take a stronger diplomatic stand over repeated attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea. The appeal reflects growing concerns over the risks faced by commercial shipping crews amid escalating regional tensions and renewed strikes on maritime infrastructure.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Embassy in India said Russia's continued attacks on civilian vessels and port facilities have repeatedly endangered Indian seafarers. According to Ukraine, 13 Indian crew members remain stranded aboard the cargo vessel **MV AMIR 1** at the Port of Chornomorsk, where missile and drone attacks remain an ongoing threat. The embassy stated that Ukrainian authorities are extending all possible assistance to the stranded crew while coordinating closely with the Indian Embassy. It also noted that previous Russian attacks had resulted in the deaths and injuries of Indian sailors working in the region.

The embassy referred to India's shipping advisories issued for the Strait of Hormuz on July 15 and the Black Sea on July 23, saying the comparison raises "serious questions" about whether the Black Sea warning reflects the level of danger created by repeated Russian attacks on civilian shipping. Ukraine also said it had requested a phone conversation between its Foreign Minister and External Affairs Minister **S. Jaishankar** to discuss Black Sea security, adding that the request has not yet received a response. Referring to the recent appeal by the Forward Seamen's Union of India, the embassy said, "We share its concerns and expect that our repeated warnings regarding the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea, together with these calls from India's maritime community, will prompt appropriate preventive measures by the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Directorate General of Shipping."

Ukraine also recalled that India had previously summoned the Russian Charge d'Affaires after the attack on **MV Golden Leo**, which claimed the lives of four Indian nationals, and asked, "As Russian attacks continue to endanger Indian seafarers, will MEA summon the Russian representative once again for further explanations?" The statement comes shortly after India summoned Ukraine's Ambassador, **Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk**, following the July 27 attack on **MV OMORFI**, in which Indian seafarer **Sagar Gupta** was killed, highlighting the increasing dangers faced by Indian sailors in conflict-affected waters.