India has summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk after a series of attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members in the Black Sea. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took the step following repeated incidents near Ukraine's Odesa port, where commercial ships with Indian sailors on board came under attack as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.

According to news agency ANI, the MEA called in the Ukrainian envoy after an Indian seafarer lost his life during an attack on the commercial vessel MV OMORFI on July 18. The government expressed serious concern over the safety of Indian nationals working on merchant ships operating in the conflict zone. India also strongly condemned the attacks on commercial shipping and asked the ambassador to convey the country's concerns to the Ukrainian government.

The July 18 attack on MV OMORFI took place in the Black Sea and claimed the life of an Indian sailor. The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) identified the deceased as Chief Officer Sagar Gupta. His death added to growing concerns over the risks faced by Indian seafarers working on vessels passing through the Black Sea during the ongoing conflict.

As per ANI, the Ministry of External Affairs conveyed its serious concern over the incident and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms. The ministry also urged the Ukrainian envoy to communicate India's concerns over the repeated attacks on merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea region.

The latest attack took place on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv, the commercial vessel MV AGN Ragnar was hit while it was at the Port of Odesa. Odesa is one of Ukraine's major Black Sea ports and has remained a frequent target since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. The attack once again raised questions about the safety of commercial shipping and foreign crew members operating in the area.

The recent incident came only days after another deadly attack involving Indian sailors. Four Indian seafarers were killed in a Russian strike on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo. The incident prompted the Indian government to take immediate diplomatic action.

Following the attack on MV Golden Leo, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Russian chargé d'affaires Vladimir Ladanov. The meeting took place publicly, with television crews recording his arrival at the ministry on Tuesday morning. The move reflected India's concern over the loss of Indian lives in the conflict zone and its demand for greater safety for commercial vessels carrying Indian nationals.

Vladimir Ladanov attended the meeting in place of the Russian ambassador, who was away from New Delhi at the time. India raised its concerns over the attack and highlighted the need to ensure the security of merchant ships operating in the Black Sea.

The back-to-back diplomatic engagements with both Ukraine and Russia underline India's concern over the safety of its citizens working at sea. The government has continued to closely monitor developments in the Black Sea and has raised the issue through diplomatic channels after each attack involving Indian crew members.

The latest incidents have once again highlighted the dangers faced by commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. With multiple attacks affecting vessels carrying Indian sailors, India has stepped up diplomatic efforts to protect its nationals and has conveyed its concerns directly to both Ukraine and Russia.