India has summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk after a merchant vessel carrying Indian crew members was struck at the Port of Odesa, underscoring New Delhi’s growing concern over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the conflict-hit Black Sea region.
The diplomatic move follows an attack on MV AGN Ragnar while it was docked at Odesa, one of Ukraine’s key Black Sea ports that has repeatedly come under fire since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv confirmed the incident and reiterated concerns over the deteriorating security environment.
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In response, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued a fresh advisory urging Indian nationals to carefully evaluate the risks before accepting employment on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea. The advisory describes the maritime security situation as highly volatile, warning that merchant ships remain vulnerable to missile and drone attacks.
The government noted that attacks on commercial vessels have increased since April 2026, resulting in the deaths of five Indian nationals. Seafarers have been advised to obtain detailed information from employers and recruitment agencies regarding shipping routes, ports of call, onboard security arrangements, insurance coverage and emergency response procedures before taking up assignments.
Ukraine, meanwhile, said the growing risks to civilian shipping stem from continued Russian military operations in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian Embassy in India stated that it had repeatedly warned international partners, including Indian authorities, about threats to civilian navigation and had raised the issue before the International Maritime Organization.
Kyiv also extended condolences over the deaths of Indian nationals in recent attacks and expressed hope that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would soon hold discussions on maritime security.
The latest diplomatic development comes days after India summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires following the deaths of four Indian seafarers in a Russian strike on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo near Odesa.
