The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized a surge in maritime threats, citing that four vessels were attacked within just 48 hours, and urgently called for the cessation of such aggressions. The recent incidents targeting commercial shipping in the Black Sea have raised significant alarm, prompting a robust condemnation from India’s government.
In a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reported that three Indians were onboard the MV Royad Mammadov when it was struck, and all were rescued, with one sustaining injuries that required medical attention. Another vessel, the Palau-flagged MV Able, suffered an attack by a drone while carrying 18 crew members, seven of whom were Indian. Bulgarian authorities facilitated the evacuation efforts, and the crew members were treated in Varna, Bulgaria.
The MEA expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for its assistance, although the status of the crew on the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan remains unclear as they await more information. Fortunately, all 23 crew members aboard the Liberia-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio were rescued without serious injuries. The MEA reiterated the need for an immediate halt to attacks, asserting that targeting commercial shipping and civilian lives is unacceptable, while advocating for dialogue and diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine regarding Black Sea shipping safety.
