An Indian seafarer was killed after a commercial cargo vessel came under attack while transiting the Black Sea, prompting India to strongly condemn the strike and renew concerns over the safety of civilian crews operating in conflict-hit waters.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the merchant vessel MV OMORFI was attacked on July 18 while sailing through the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters.
The ship had 10 crew members, including three Indian nationals. One Indian sailor died in the attack, while the other two are safe. India’s mission in Russia is coordinating with local authorities and extending assistance to the affected family.
In a statement, the MEA described attacks on commercial shipping as “unacceptable” and said the growing risks to civilian vessels threaten both international maritime navigation and global trade. The ministry urged all parties involved in the conflict to uphold international obligations and ensure the safety of merchant ships and their crews.
The latest incident comes less than a week after four Indian seafarers were killed in a separate missile strike on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo while it was departing Ukraine’s Odesa port.
Those back-to-back attacks have intensified New Delhi’s diplomatic engagement over the safety of Indian nationals working aboard commercial ships in the Black Sea.
India supplies thousands of trained seafarers to the global shipping industry, many of whom serve on international cargo vessels operating through conflict-prone regions. The recent attacks have renewed concerns over the risks faced by Indian merchant navy personnel as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to disrupt key maritime trade routes.
