Shippingtelegraph: Constant fear of a direct hit: 13 seafarers trapped at Ukraine’s Black Sea port amid drone attacks
Published by shippingtelegraph
Ukraine has publicly urged India to take a tougher stand against Russia, accusing Moscow of repeatedly putting Indian seafarers in danger through attacks on civilian ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Embassy in India questioned whether New Delhi would once again summon Russia’s representative for further explanations, as it had after an earlier attack on a ship, which claimed four Indian lives.
“As Russian attacks continue to endanger Indian seafarers, will MEA summon the Russian representative once again for further explanations?” the embassy asked.
According to Kyiv, 13 Indian crew members remain stranded aboard the cargo vessel MV AMIR 1 at the Port of Chornomorsk, where the threat of Russian missile and drone strikes continues.
“Disturbing news continues to emerge from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports as Russia intensifies its attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure,” the Ukrainian embassy in India said.
It added that Russian attacks had already led to the deaths and injuries of Indian seafarers working in the region.
Ukraine said its authorities were extending all possible assistance to the stranded crew and were coordinating closely with the Indian Embassy in Ukraine.
Thirteen Indian seafarers are among 15 crew members stranded aboard the general cargo vessel at Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, where continuing drone and missile attacks have left them trapped in what the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) described as a “life-threatening” situation.
The Embassy of India in Ukraine said on Wednesday that the situation involving MV AMIR1 had been brought to its attention and the safety of the Indian nationals remained its “highest priority”.
“A situation regarding MV AMIR1 with Indian seafarers onboard has been brought to our attention. We attach the highest priority to this and are in constant touch with all concerned to ensure safety and security of all Indians onboard,” the embassy said.
In an urgent appeal posted on X, the union said the vessel remains trapped at the Black Sea port with 15 crew on board, including 13 Indian seafarers, as hostilities continue in the surrounding area.
It alleged that drone and missile strikes were being attempted in the immediate vicinity of the vessel, leaving the crew living under constant fear of a direct hit.
FSUI has also released a video, which reportedly shows thick black smoke rising from the vessel.
The FSUI said the footage underlines the seriousness of the situation and called for swift action to ensure the crew’s safety and their prompt repatriation.
The appeal came against the backdrop of a wider escalation in attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns over the safety of merchant crews operating in the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.
India warns seafarers against Black Sea risks
The security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remains highly volatile due to the ongoing conflict. Since April 2026, there has been an increase in the number of incidents on commercial vessels, which has resulted in the tragic loss of 5 Indian lives.
Amid the escalating risks, India’s ministry of external affairs had already advised Indian nationals to carefully assess the security situation before accepting employment on commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea region.
India has the world’s second-largest seafaring community, with its nationals working aboard both Indian and foreign vessels, contributing 311,936 maritime professionals to the global shipping industry.
Recent report estimates that India now accounts for 12.16% of the global seafaring workforce, ranking behind the Philippines and ahead of China, the Russian Federation and Indonesia.
Russia chokes Ukraine’s lifeline Black Sea export corridor
Russia’s attacks on civilian cargo ships bound for Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea are strangling Kyiv’s vital export corridor.
Both countries have intensified strikes in recent months, as the war continues into its fifth year.
Russia has sought to disrupt Ukraine’s export corridor and keep pressure on Kyiv, with media reports indicating that the Black Sea maritime corridor is facing severe strain.
“Russia is holding global food security hostage. Today, zero vessels passed through Ukraine’s Black Sea maritime corridor – right at peak harvest. This is deliberate economic and humanitarian terror,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote in a social media post on July 22.
“Just as Iran targeted energy routes in the Strait of Hormuz, Russia is now targeting global food markets in the Black Sea. Millions of families across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America may face rising prices and hunger if this terror continues,” Sybiha added.
Ukraine has also increased attacks on Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov and on Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to evade Western sanctions.
Related Posts
