India has reacted strongly after a Turkish-owned civilian cargo vessel came under attack in the Black Sea, leaving two people dead and several crew members injured, including an Indian sailor. The vessel, MV Royad Mammadov, was reportedly struck by Russian drones while operating outside Romania’s territorial waters, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack caused a fire on board and the vessel later sank. The Indian Embassy in Romania said three Indian nationals were among the crew and that one of them was injured and receiving medical treatment in Romania. The embassy subsequently confirmed that all three Indian nationals were safe and receiving the necessary care.

The Indian mission initially said it had received information about an attack on the commercial vessel and that two foreign nationals had been killed, while other crew members were injured and taken to Romania for treatment. It said three Indian nationals were among those aboard the ship and that officials were working with Romanian authorities to establish further details about their safety. Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mohapatra later spoke directly with the three Indian crew members at Constanta County Hospital. The hospital’s chief physician also confirmed to the ambassador that the three were in good health and receiving appropriate medical attention. The embassy said it remained in close contact with hospital authorities and was extending all possible assistance to the Indian seafarers.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described attacks on civilian shipping as “completely unacceptable” and reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. His remarks came amid growing concern over the risks faced by commercial vessels and seafarers operating through conflict-affected maritime routes. India has increasingly raised the issue of maritime security as Indian sailors have been caught up in attacks involving commercial ships in different parts of the region. Jaishankar has also highlighted the need for international cooperation to protect shipping and seafarers and ensure that commercial maritime routes remain safe.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two Russian drones struck the civilian vessel in what he described as an attack in neutral waters. He said the ship was carrying corn and was owned by a Turkish company, with Azerbaijani and Indian nationals among its crew. Zelenskyy also said the ship’s captain was killed and that 11 crew members were rescued, including one who was injured. Romanian authorities confirmed that 11 crew members were rescued and that two people had died following the maritime incident. Russia had not issued a specific public response to the reported attack at the time of the latest reports, although its Defence Ministry had earlier said Russian forces had struck two cargo vessels.

The MV Royad Mammadov was carrying corn and had last docked at the Ukrainian port of Izmail before sailing towards Ravenna in Italy. The vessel was flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, according to available shipping information. Romanian authorities said the incident occurred in Romania’s exclusive economic zone, around 30 nautical miles south of Sfântu Gheorghe in Tulcea County, though outside the country’s territorial waters. The Black Sea has become an increasingly hazardous operating environment for commercial shipping since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with vessels and port infrastructure exposed to missile and drone attacks as well as other maritime security threats. The region is an important corridor for the movement of agricultural commodities and other cargo, making attacks involving civilian vessels a wider concern for international trade.

The latest incident also adds to a series of attacks and security incidents involving Indian seafarers in and around the Black Sea since the Russia-Ukraine war began. Indian nationals have previously been among crews affected by strikes on commercial vessels operating from Ukrainian ports and through regional shipping routes. The incidents have prompted Indian authorities to pay closer attention to the safety of Indian citizens working aboard merchant vessels in conflict-affected waters. In the latest case, however, the Indian Embassy confirmed that all three Indian crew members aboard the Royad Mammadov survived, with one receiving medical treatment for injuries. As Romanian authorities continue to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, India has said it will remain in contact with the affected sailors and provide assistance while continuing to monitor the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region.

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