India summons Ukraine envoy after Black Sea drone strike kills seafarer

New Delhi: India on Monday summoned Ukraine's ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk after a Ukrainian drone attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI killed an Indian national, condemning attacks on merchant shipping and warning they threaten maritime safety and global commerce.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) conveyed its "serious concern" to the ambassador and condemned attacks on commercial shipping "in the strongest terms", saying they undermine the safety and freedom of navigation as well as international trade. The ambassador was asked to convey India's strong concerns to the Ukrainian authorities over the targeting of commercial vessels. The MEA reiterated that attacks endangering innocent civilian seafarers are unacceptable and must be avoided.

Last week, MV OMORFI was attacked by Ukrainian drones while transiting the Black Sea in Russian territorial waters. The MEA had last week summoned Russian charge d'affaires Vladimir Ladanov over an attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo, which killed four Indian nationals as it departed Ukraine's port of Odesa on July 19. India had conveyed its "grave concerns" to Russia over the incident.


On Sunday, the MEA issued an advisory urging Indian nationals considering jobs on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the Black Sea to carefully assess security risks before accepting assignments, citing a surge in attacks on shipping and the deaths of five Indian nationals.

The ministry said the security situation in and around the Black Sea remained volatile because of the ongoing conflict, with commercial vessels increasingly exposed to missile and drone attacks. Incidents involving merchant shipping have risen since April 2026.

The advisory urged Indian seafarers to seek detailed information from employers, recruitment agencies and ship operators on intended routes, ports of call, security arrangements, insurance cover and emergency response procedures before accepting employment. It also advised them to ensure employment contracts comply with international maritime standards and include provisions for medical care, evacuation, repatriation and compensation in emergencies.