Ukraine Condoles India After Black Sea Ship Attacks

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha extended condolences to Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar following two maritime attacks in the Black Sea that targeted vessels carrying Indian nationals. On July 19, an attack on the MV Golden Leo as it departed from the port of Odesa killed four Indian seafarers and critically injured one other.

A second incident occurred on Sunday, July 26, when another merchant vessel carrying four Indian nationals was struck at Odesa. Two crew members are confirmed safe, while the status of the remaining two individuals remains unknown.

In response to the volatile security situation driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs of India issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to assess security risks and ensure employment terms meet international maritime standards before working on commercial vessels in the region. Sybiha proposed a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers to discuss the security situation in the Black Sea region in detail.