India condemned a Russian drone attack on a cargo ship in the Black Sea that killed two people. Three Indian crew members were on board, and one got injured. The MEA said, "The targeting of traffic in international waterways is severely undermining global commerce and welfare of people across the world."
A cargo ship carrying three Indian nationals among its crew was hit by Russian drones in the Black Sea, killing two seafarers and injuring one of the Indian crew members. The MV Royad Mammadov caught fire in the attack and later sank, while 11 crew members were rescued by Romanian authorities.
India has now strongly condemned the attack, calling the targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers a matter of "grave concern". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said all three Indian nationals who were part of the ship's crew are safe. One of them was injured and is receiving medical attention in Romania.
New Delhi also warned about the wider consequences of attacks on merchant vessels operating through international waterways.
"The targeting of traffic in international waterways is severely undermining global commerce and welfare of people across the world. We continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts," the MEA said in a statement.
INDIAN CREW MEMBERS SAFE
The Indian Embassy in Bucharest confirmed that all three Indian nationals aboard the vessel were safe. The embassy said one of them had been injured and was receiving medical treatment.
Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mohapatra also spoke to the three crew members at Constana County Hospital and contacted the hospital's chief physician, according to the Indian mission. The embassy said it remained in contact with Romanian authorities and hospital officials and was providing support to the affected sailors.
Romanian authorities rescued 11 crew members from the vessel after a fire broke out. Two people were killed in the incident, according to Romanian authorities. The ship eventually sank in the Black Sea, about 30 nautical miles south of Sfantu Gheorghe, according to reports.
The vessel was outside Romania's territorial waters but within the country's exclusive economic zone when the incident occurred.
ZELENSKYY BLAMES RUSSIAN DRONES
Ukraine has blamed Russia for the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two Russian drones struck the civilian vessel while it was carrying corn through the Black Sea. He described the ship as Turkish-owned and said Azerbaijani and Indian nationals were among its crew.
"A horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel in neutral waters carrying corn and owned by Turkey. Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
He also confirmed the death of the ship's captain.
SHIP WAS CARRYING CORN TO ITALY
The MV Royad Mammadov was carrying corn and was headed towards Ravenna in Italy. The vessel was flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis and had previously called at the Ukrainian port of Izmail, according to vessel-tracking information and reports.
Its route highlights the importance of commercial shipping through the western Black Sea. Izmail, located on the Danube near the Romanian border, has become an important outlet for Ukrainian goods during the war, particularly as the conflict has made maritime trade routes more difficult and dangerous.
For India, the incident is not simply another casualty of the Russia-Ukraine war. New Delhi has repeatedly raised concerns over attacks on merchant vessels and the safety of seafarers caught in conflicts far from their home countries.