The MEA summoned the Ukrainian ambassador Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk over attacks on Indian-manned merchant ships | Today’s news
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) summoned the Ukrainian ambassador Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk after the attack on a merchant ship with Indian crew members. The move comes after a ship with four Indian nationals on board was hit in Ukraine’s Odesa port on Saturday.
India’s foreign ministry said Ukraine’s ambassador had been asked to convey to Ukrainian authorities New Delhi’s “strong concerns” about the targeting of merchant vessels, Reuters reported.
The development follows another recent incident in which four Indian sailors were killed after the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo was hit in a Russian attack. In response, the MEA summoned Russian chargé d’affaires Vladimir Ladanov on Tuesday.
Television crews captured his arrival at the ministry as the Russian envoy was not in Delhi at the time. Ladanov was summoned because the Russian ambassador was out of the Indian capital.
The vessel hit the Ukrainian port of Odessa
A merchant ship with four Indian nationals on board was hit in Ukraine’s Odesa port, the Indian embassy in Kyiv said on Sunday, according to PTI. While two crew members have been confirmed safe, the condition of the remaining two is yet to be ascertained.
The attack took place on Saturday when the MV AGN Ragnar was hit in the port of Odesa, a strategic Black Sea port that has been repeatedly targeted since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Indian Embassy reacts
In a statement, the Indian embassy said it was closely monitoring developments surrounding the incident.
The Indian embassy said four Indian nationals were on board the vessel when it was attacked. It added that search and rescue operations are underway and that the mission is in continuous contact with the relevant authorities to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing crew members and provide all possible assistance.
The identities of the four Indian nationals and their specific roles on the ship have also not been disclosed.
What DGMA said
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has asked Indian-flagged vessels as well as foreign ships carrying Indian sailors to maintain the highest level of vigilance while operating in the Black Sea. It also advised ship operators to conduct a security risk assessment for a particular voyage before entering conflict-affected waters.
“Due to the ongoing armed conflicts in the Black Sea and the recent increase in attacks on merchant vessels…all Indian-flagged vessels and foreign vessels with Indian sailors are advised to exercise utmost caution when operating in the Black Sea and conduct a voyage-specific security risk assessment before entering the affected region,” the DGMA said in a circular on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Odessa, Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port, has been repeatedly targeted by missile and drone attacks since Russia launched its all-out invasion in February 2022. Despite efforts to maintain maritime trade across the Black Sea, merchant shipping continues to face periodic disruptions.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, India has consistently advised its citizens not to travel to Ukraine due to the volatile security situation and has continued to provide consular support to Indian nationals who remain in the country.
