The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, over the attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI that killed an Indian seafarer in the Black Sea. The MEA conveyed India’s strong concern and said attacks on commercial shipping are unacceptable because they endanger civilian lives and disrupt maritime trade.
The vessel was attacked on July 18 while transiting the Black Sea. It had 10 crew members on board, including three Indians. One Indian national died in the incident, while the other two Indian crew members were reported safe.
The development comes amid wider India-Ukraine engagement. Earlier this year, Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov visited New Delhi and held talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on bilateral cooperation and the conflict in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said India and Ukraine were finalising enhanced security cooperation.
Ukraine has also stepped up outreach in India. In May, it participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Surat, reflecting efforts to expand economic and regional ties. The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi has separately conveyed condolences over the Black Sea deaths and expressed interest in continued dialogue with Indian officials.
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