In touch with Ukraine as 2 Indians still missing after Odesa port strike: Govt

The clarification from the MEA comes amid a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea as Russia and Ukraine continue to target each other's port infrastructure and maritime routes during the more than four-year-long war.The conflict has sharply increased risks for civilian vessels operating in the region. (Photo: Reuters/File)India is continuing efforts to trace two Indian nationals who remain missing after a merchant vessel came under attack at Ukraine's Port of Odesa, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday, as concerns grow over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the conflict-hit Black Sea. The vessel, MV AGN Ragnar, was struck near the Odesa port on July 25. Four Indian nationals were on board at the time of the attack. While two have been confirmed safe, search operations are still underway for the remaining two.The clarification from the MEA comes amid a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea as Russia and Ukraine continue to target each other's port infrastructure and maritime routes during the more than four-year-long war. The conflict has sharply increased risks for civilian vessels operating in the region, prompting India's concerns after 5 Indian sailors were killed in attacks in recent months.SEARCH FOR TWO INDIANS CONTINUESMEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Indian authorities remain in constant contact with officials in Ukraine as efforts continue to locate the missing crew members."Regarding the incident that took place near the Odesa port, as we had informed you earlier, there were four Indian nationals on board. Two Indian nationals are safe, while two are still missing. Search efforts are ongoing, and we are in continuous contact with the local authorities there. At the same time, we have also established contact with the families of the two missing Indian nationals. We are making every possible effort to provide whatever assistance we can and remain fully engaged in those efforts." The Indian Embassy in Kyiv had earlier said it was closely monitoring developments following the attack on MV AGN Ragnar and was coordinating with the relevant authorities to establish the status of the missing sailors."Embassy of India in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation following the incident involving MV AGN Ragnar, which was struck at the Port of Odesa on July 25," the mission had said. It added, "As per the latest information, two have been confirmed safe, and information is awaited regarding the other two nationals."BLACK SEA REMAINS A HIGH-RISK ZONEThe incident has once again highlighted the growing dangers faced by merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea, where commercial shipping has increasingly found itself caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Odesa, Ukraine's largest Black Sea port, has remained a frequent target of missile and drone attacks since the war began in 2022. Despite continued commercial activity, maritime routes in the region have become increasingly hazardous for civilian vessels.In a recent security advisory, the MEA warned that the situation in and around the Black Sea remains "highly volatile", with commercial ships facing significant risks from missile and drone strikes. The advisory urged Indian nationals considering employment on commercial vessels operating in or passing through the conflict-affected region to carefully assess the prevailing security situation before accepting such assignments.It also advised seafarers to obtain complete information from employers about sailing routes, onboard security arrangements, insurance coverage and emergency response procedures before joining ships operating in the region.SERIES OF ATTACKS RAISES CONCERNSThe attack on MV AGN Ragnar comes just days after another incident involving Indian sailors in the Black Sea intensified diplomatic concerns. Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Ukraine's Ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, after an Indian seafarer was killed in a strike on merchant vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea.The sailor, identified by the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) as Chief Officer Sagar Gupta, died in the July 18 attack.During the meeting, India strongly condemned attacks on commercial shipping and said such incidents threaten maritime safety, freedom of navigation and international commerce."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," the MEA had said."The Ambassador was requested to convey to the Ukrainian authorities 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," the MEA added.UKRAINE EXPRESSES CONDOLENCESThe Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi expressed condolences over the deaths of Indian sailors and said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The embassy said the minister had conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased seafarers and acknowledged the worsening security situation in the Black Sea."In addition to the letter of condolence addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr. Andrii Sybiha, to the Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Embassy of Ukraine extends 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 Ukrainian mission also expressed hope that the foreign ministers of the two countries would hold talks soon to discuss maritime security and the evolving situation in the region.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesPublished By: Satyam SinghPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 19:00 IST