India miffed over 'Ukrainian' drone strike on oil tanker

New Delhi: India is miffed with an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on an oil tanker in Sochi that endangered the lives of over 20 nationals and targeted the vessel that was reportedly carrying crude here.

The tanker, carrying Indian seafarers, was attacked despite Indian proposals for a Ukraine-Russia truce that called for the safety of the seafarers and safe passage of oil and grain. Ukraine had described the Indian proposal as the most comprehensive. Yet, a vessel carrying Indians was targeted, sources pointed out.

“We reiterate our call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and enable early return of peace to the region. The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways must be restored at the earliest,” MEA spokesperson Randheer Jaiswal said here on Wednesday.


A Liberian-flagged oil tanker, carrying 23 Indian crew members, caught fire off Russia’s Black Sea coast after what the Russian authorities described as an attack by naval drones, with all the crew members rescued. The tanker, identified as ‘Aframax Rio’, was attacked by “naval drones” on Tuesday, triggering a fire near the Russian resort city of Sochi, Russia’s transport ministry said.

Russian transport minister Andrey Nikitin chaired a crisis response meeting following the emergency. Russia’s environmental watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, is monitoring the situation in the Black Sea following the attack.

Meanwhile, experts on Russian affairs told ET that while Moscow, at the level of President Vladimir Putin, has welcomed the Indian peace proposals on the war, Russia does not want a ceasefire for the sake of ceasefire.

“India enjoys credibility with all sides and Moscow appreciates Indian efforts but a ceasefire for the sake of ceasefire will be utilised by Ukraine to rearm itself. Russia wants root causes of the conflict to be addressed, including the issue of Russian language population in Ukraine and the ground reality must be accepted. Russia also needs security guarantees for the future,” a Russian affairs expert explained.

NATO membership for Ukraine is not currently under consideration, as Washington is focused on ending the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly ruled out Ukraine joining NATO as part of a potential peace settlement.