India has summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador to New Delhi after an Indian sailor was killed in a strike on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea….reports Asian Lite News Desk
India on Monday summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) following the death of an Indian seafarer in a strike on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea.
The MEA conveyed its serious concern over the incident and strongly condemned attacks on commercial shipping, saying such actions jeopardise maritime safety, freedom of navigation and international trade.
The ministry asked the Ukrainian envoy to convey India’s strong concerns to the authorities in Kyiv, stressing that attacks on commercial vessels that endanger civilian seafarers are unacceptable and must be avoided.
The envoy was seen leaving the Ministry of External Affairs headquarters after the meeting.
The incident follows a deadly strike on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea on July 18, in which Indian seafarer Chief Officer Sagar Gupta was killed. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) identified the deceased sailor.
Earlier on Monday, the Embassy of Ukraine in India said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressing condolences over the deaths of Indian seafarers amid the worsening security situation in the Black Sea.
In a statement, the embassy conveyed its sympathy to the families of the Indian nationals who lost their lives and said Ukraine hoped the foreign ministers of both countries would speak soon to discuss the evolving security situation in the Black Sea region.
“We hope that, following the relevant proposal made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, a conversation between the foreign ministers of our two countries will take place in the near future to discuss in detail the current security situation in the Black Sea region,” the statement said.
The developments come as security conditions in the Black Sea continue to deteriorate amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On Sunday, India’s Embassy in Ukraine said a merchant vessel carrying four Indian nationals had been struck at the port of Odesa. Two of the crew members were reported safe, while information on the remaining two was awaited.
Earlier, on July 19, four Indian nationals were killed and one was critically injured in an attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo as it departed the port of Odesa.
With the security situation in the Black Sea and surrounding maritime areas remaining volatile, the MEA has advised Indian nationals considering employment on commercial vessels operating in the region to carefully assess the security risks before accepting such assignments.
The ministry also urged Indian seafarers to ensure their employment contracts comply with international maritime standards and advised those requiring assistance to contact the Embassy of India or Indian consulates in the region.
