India summons Ukrainian envoy over Indian seafarer’s death
India on Monday summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk to the Ministry of External Affairs and lodged a strong protest over the tragic death of an Indian seafarer in an attack on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea last week.
The Ministry of External Affairs conveyed New Delhi’s serious concern over the incident involving the merchant vessel MV Omorfi, which reportedly came under Ukrainian drone strikes amid ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. The Ministry condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms.
“Today, the Ambassador of Ukraine to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in connection with the attack on the commercial vessel MV Omorfi which resulted in the tragic death of an Indian national,” the MEA stated.
The Ministry underscored the adverse impact of such incidents on the safety of maritime navigation, freedom of navigation, and international commerce. It requested the Ambassador to convey to the Ukrainian authorities India’s strong concerns over the targeting of commercial vessels.
The MEA reiterated that actions endangering the lives of innocent civilian seafarers are unacceptable and must be avoided. India has consistently emphasised the importance of protecting civilian maritime traffic and ensuring the safety of seafarers operating in conflict zones.
The development reflects New Delhi’s continued diplomatic engagement to safeguard the interests and security of its nationals serving aboard merchant vessels in the region.
