India summons Ukraine envoy after Black Sea ship attack kills Indian national

India summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk in New Delhi on Monday to protest over an attack on a commercial vessel in the Black Sea that killed an Indian national, the Indian foreign ministry said.

The ministry said the July 18 attack on the MV Omforfi took place while the vessel was transiting the Black Sea. It said three Indian nationals were on board and one was killed.

India said it conveyed “serious concern” and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping. It said Polishchuk was asked to tell Kyiv that actions endangering civilian seafarers were unacceptable and must be avoided.

New Delhi had also summoned the Russian envoy last week over an attack on a cargo ship leaving Ukraine’s port of Odesa that killed four Indian nationals, the ministry said.

India’s shipping ministry said India had more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025, making it one of the largest contributors of sailors to merchant shipping worldwide. New Delhi has issued security warnings for ships heading into the Black Sea that are locally flagged or employ Indian seafarers after recent attacks.

India’s foreign ministry also said 14 Indian seafarers had been killed in attacks on ships during the Middle East war.