Ukraine on Wednesday issued a strongly worded statement accusing Russia of endangering Indian seafarers through its continued attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure in the Black Sea.
In a post
on X, Ukraine questioned whether India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) would once again summon the Russian representative to seek an explanation over the continued attacks that have endangered Indian seafarers in the Black Sea.
In a statement posted by the Ukrainian Embassy in India, Kyiv said 13 Indian crew members remain stranded aboard the vessel MV AMIR 1 at the Port of Chornomorsk amid the ongoing threat of Russian missile and drone strikes.
“Disturbing news continues to emerge from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports as Russia intensifies its attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure,” the embassy said, adding that Russia’s actions had already resulted in deaths and injuries among Indian seafarers operating in the region.
The embassy said Ukrainian authorities were providing all possible assistance and remained in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Ukraine regarding the affected sailors.
Ukraine also expressed disappointment that its request for a telephone conversation between the Ukrainian Foreign Minister and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on security in the Black Sea had not received a response.
The statement further questioned whether India’s current safety advisories adequately reflect the risks faced by Indian sailors in the Black Sea. Kyiv pointed to separate advisories issued by India’s Directorate General of Shipping for the Strait of Hormuz on July 15 and for the Black Sea on July 23, arguing that a comparison of the two raises “serious questions” about whether the Black Sea recommendations match the level of danger posed by repeated Russian attacks on civilian shipping.
Disturbing news continues to emerge from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports as Russia intensifies its attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure.
Thirteen Indian seafarers remain stranded aboard MV AMIR 1 in the Port of Chornomorsk, under the continuing threat of Russian missile… pic.twitter.com/YoXtg9ccwQ
— Ukraine in India (@UkrembInd) July 29, 2026
The embassy said it had taken note of a recent statement by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India calling for stronger measures to protect Indian sailors operating in high-risk maritime zones.
“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,” the statement said.
Ukraine also recalled that the Russian Chargé d’Affaires was summoned by India’s Ministry of External Affairs following an earlier attack on the MV Golden Leo that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals.
“As Russian attacks continue to endanger Indian seafarers, will MEA summon the Russian representative once again for further explanations?” the embassy asked.
The statement comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Indian merchant sailors working in conflict-hit maritime regions, including the Black Sea and the Middle East, where geopolitical tensions have heightened risks to commercial shipping.
Earlier on July 27, India summoned the Ambassador of Ukraine to India, HE Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk, following the attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea that claimed the life of Indian seafarer Sagar Gupta.
