New Delhi: Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk was summoned on July 27, Monday to the Ministry of External Affairs, after an Indian sailor was killed as an impact of the strike on a ship in the Black Sea. A deadly attack on July 18, on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea resulted in the death of an Indian seafarer. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has identified the deceased sailor as Chief Officer Sagar Gupta.
The Ministry conveyed its serious concern over the incident and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms, underscoring their adverse impact on the safety of maritime navigation, freedom of navigation and international commerce. He was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs and was seen leaving the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan.
In an official statement, the MEA said the Ukrainian envoy was called to South Block in connection with the attack on MV OMORFI, which resulted in the death of an Indian seafarer. “Today, the Ambassador of Ukraine to India, H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in connection with the attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI, which resulted in the tragic death of an Indian national”, the ministry said.
#Breaking: MEA summons Ukrainian Ambassador to register India’s strong protest on the death of an Indian crew member in the Ukrainian drone attack on MV OMORFI last week https://t.co/AYdS4wVS08 pic.twitter.com/X516yGzyoi
— Dhairrya Maheshwari (@dhairyam14) July 27, 2026
The Ambassador was requested to convey to the Ukrainian authorities about India’s strong concerns over the targeting of commercial vessels and reiterated that such actions, which endanger the lives of innocent civilian seafarers, are unacceptable and must be avoided.
Meanwhile, earlier today, the Embassy of Ukraine in India said that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha extended condolences to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar over the loss of lives of Indian seafarers amid the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea. The Embassy of Ukraine also extended its profound sympathy to the families of the Indian seafarers who lost their lives as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea.
The statement also expressed anticipation for a call to take place between Sybiha and Jaishankar to discuss the security situation in the Black Sea region. The statement comes amid an evolving situation in the Black Sea as tensions escalate between Russia and Ukraine. On July 27, Sunday, a merchant vessel carrying four Indian nationals on board was struck at the port of Odesa and two of them are safe while information is awaited regarding the other two persons, India’s Embassy in Ukraine said.
With the security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remaining highly volatile due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the government has advised Indian nationals intending to undertake employment on commercial vessels operating in the region to carefully assess the prevailing security risks before accepting such assignments. The ministry advised prospective seafarers to obtain comprehensive information from employers, recruitment agencies and ship operators regarding intended routes, security arrangements, insurance coverage and emergency response procedures before joining vessels operating in the conflict-affected region.
It also urged Indian nationals to ensure that employment contracts comply with international maritime standards and include adequate provisions for medical care, evacuation, repatriation and compensation in the event of emergencies. It reiterated that the Indian nationals requiring consular assistance are advised to contact the Embassy of India or Consulates in the region.
With repeated attacks on merchant ships raising concerns over the safety of civilian mariners, India’s latest diplomatic intervention underscores New Delhi’s growing focus on protecting Indian seafarers while reaffirming its position that attacks endangering innocent civilian crews and commercial navigation are unacceptable.
(With Inputs from ANI)
