On 19 July, when a grain-laden ship traversed the waters of Ukraine’s Odesa port, four Indians were killed, and one was left in critical condition. India strongly condemned the attack.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel MV Golden Leo was struck while leaving the Black Sea port. 17 persons were present on board, including 05 Indian nationals.
MEA gave its confirmation that four Indians had been killed, and the fifth member of the crew was in “critical condition” in the hospital. Indian authorities are closely observing the situation through its mission connection in Ukraine, and are doing everything possible to support.
India vehemently protested attacks on commercial vessels and civilian crew members in response to the incident. Targeting merchant shipping and infringing freedom of navigation and trade and global movement is “unacceptable,” the MEA said.
The ministry, in its statement, emphasized that attacks against innocent civilian seafarers and attacks on any civilian maritime activities should be avoided at all costs.
The MEA did not mention Russia specifically, though Ukrainian authorities have blamed the Russian authorities for launching the strike, as battles raged in the Black Sea region.
The attack is said to be ‘one of the most deadly’ incidents involving Indian seafarers since the tension in the Black Sea escalated yet again. It has also reinvigorated worries about the potential for international commercial shipping to travel in the war area.
The Indian government stated that it will keep on providing all the necessary facilities to the families and crew members hit by the incident and continue communicating with the Ukrainian authorities in regard to the incident.