India condemns attack on commercial vessel in Black Sea; one Indian crew member killed

India on Friday condemned the attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI in the Black Sea, which claimed the life of an Indian crew member, and called on all parties to ensure the safety of maritime navigation and global commerce.In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the vessel was attacked on July 18, 2026, while transiting the Black Sea in reportedly Russian territorial waters. There were 10 crew members on board, including three Indian nationals.

Our statement on attack on Commercial Vessel MV OMORFI ⬇️

???? pic.twitter.com/pNH9fosrzr— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 24, 2026

According to the MEA, one Indian national was killed in the attack, while the other two Indian crew members are reported to be safe. The ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

The MEA said India’s Mission in Russia has contacted the relevant authorities and is making efforts to extend all possible assistance to the affected family.

Condemning the attack, India said targeting commercial shipping and endangering the lives of innocent civilian crew members was unacceptable. It also expressed concern over increasing threats to the freedom of navigation and international commerce.

India called on all concerned parties to uphold their international obligations to ensure the safety and security of maritime navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global trade.

Earlier on Tuesday, India summoned Russian Chargé d’affaires Vladimir Ladanov to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, lodging a strong protest over the killing of four Indian seafarers aboard the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo.

The MEA said it conveyed India’s “grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation” of the attack on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel on Sunday.

It told Ladanov that such attacks “undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce,” and asked him to relay India’s concerns to Moscow, stressing that targeting commercial shipping and killing civilians “are unacceptable and must be avoided.”

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