India on Monday summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk, after a fresh attack on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea carrying four Indian nationals, intensifying New Delhi’s concerns over the safety of Indian merchant seafarers operating in the conflict zone.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the Ukrainian envoy to South Block after MV AGN Ragnar was struck while berthed at Ukraine’s Port of Odesa over the weekend. According to the Indian Embassy in Kyiv, two of the four Indian crew members have been confirmed safe, while search and rescue operations are continuing for the remaining two.
During the meeting, the MEA conveyed India’s “serious concern” over the attack and strongly condemned strikes on commercial shipping.
In a statement, the ministry said such attacks directly threaten civilian seafarers, freedom of navigation and international commerce. It urged Ukraine to ensure commercial vessels are not targeted and stressed that endangering innocent civilian crew members is unacceptable.
The démarche comes days after India summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires over the attack on MV Golden Leo, which killed four Indian sailors. The parallel diplomatic protests underscore New Delhi’s position that merchant shipping must remain outside the scope of armed conflict, irrespective of the parties involved.
The attack on MV AGN Ragnar is the third incident involving commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members in just over a week, reflecting the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea.
The recent attacks began on July 18, when MV Omorfi came under attack while transiting the Black Sea, killing one Indian seafarer. Two days later, MV Golden Leo was struck shortly after departing Odesa, leaving four Indian sailors dead and another critically injured.
While no deaths have been confirmed in the latest attack, the fate of the two missing Indian crew members remains unknown.
Since April 2026, five Indian merchant seafarers have been killed in attacks linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, making this the deadliest year for Indian sailors operating in the Black Sea since the war began.
Last week, the MEA issued a fresh advisory urging Indian nationals to carefully assess the risks before accepting employment on vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea. The ministry advised seafarers to verify voyage routes, ensure adequate insurance and emergency support, remain in contact with their families, and follow security advisories issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration and other maritime authorities.
Responding to India’s protest, the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi said Kyiv had consistently warned international partners, including India, about growing security risks in the Black Sea arising from the war. It said warnings had been communicated through diplomatic channels and the International Maritime Organization.
Ukraine also welcomed India’s maritime advisory, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased Indian sailors, and said Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar proposing an early discussion on Black Sea maritime security.
India has repeatedly maintained that commercial shipping must never become a target during armed conflicts.
