Attacks on Indian seafarers in Black Sea are unacceptable: Jaishankar tells Ukraine

The vessel MV Omorfi had come under Ukrainian drone strikes amid fresh hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Five Indian seafarers have died and two more are reported missing following recent Russian and Ukrainian attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea.Five Indian seafarers have died and two more are reported missing following attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea. ( File Photo: PTI)External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha that attacks on commercial shipping and Indian seafarers in the Black Sea by any party are "absolutely unacceptable" and that India condemns them "unequivocally". He said this during a phone conversation held days after India lodged a strong protest with Ukraine over the killing of an Indian seafarer in an attack on a merchant vessel in the Black Sea region.The conversation also covered recent developments in the Ukraine conflict and peace negotiations. While Jaishankar reiterated India’s position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy, Sybiha urged India to play an "active role" in efforts to end Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.According to the PTI, the vessel MV Omorfi had come under Ukrainian drone strikes amid fresh hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Five Indian seafarers have died and two more are reported missing following recent Russian and Ukrainian attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea.In a social media post, Jaishankar said, "Discussed attacks on commercial shipping and Indian seafarers in the Black Sea. Such attacks by any party are absolutely unacceptable and India condemns them unequivocally." He added that he was briefed on recent developments related to the Ukraine conflict and peace negotiations. "India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy between the parties concerned," he said. "Underlined the fragility of the current international situation, with multiple conflicts in different geographies. These are impacting fuel, fertilizer and food security, especially for the Global South," Jaishankar added. Sybiha, in his own social media post, said he had a "good" conversation with Jaishankar and briefed him about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Washington DC. He said he also conveyed to Jaishankar the "consequences of Russian aggression" far beyond Ukraine’s borders. "By attacking civilian vessels in the Black Sea, Russia undermines freedom of navigation and puts global food security at risk. At the same time, its continued war fuels instability in global energy markets, affecting countries far beyond our region," he alleged. "I reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace and encouraged India to play an active role in peace efforts. We agreed to remain in close contact," the Ukrainian foreign minister said.The call came against the backdrop of recent attacks in the Black Sea that have affected commercial shipping and Indian seafarers, with India condemning such strikes and continuing to press for dialogue and diplomacy as the conflict and its wider effects continue. - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 30, 2026 23:13 IST