13 Indian sailors stranded at Ukraine's Black Sea port amid attacks

Thirteen Indian seafarers are among 15 crew members stranded on board a cargo vessel at Ukraine's Chornomorsk port, where repeated drone and missile attacks have placed the crew in what has been described as a "life-threatening situation", according to the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI). In an urgent appeal posted on X, the union said the vessel, MV AMIR1, remains docked at Chornomorsk while hostilities continue in the surrounding area. "MV AMIR1, currently at Ukrainian port Chornomorsk with 15 crew on board, including 13 Indian seafarers, is trapped in a terrible and life-threatening situation," it said. his comes a day after MEA raised concerns with Ukraine over the safety of Indian seafarers in the Black Sea. On Monday, the MEA summoned Ukraine's ambassador to India, Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk, following an attack on the merchant vessel MV OMORFI near the Ukrainian port of Odesa that had four Indian crew members on board.

Urgent Appeal | M.V. AMIR1
M.V. AMIR1, currently at Ukrainian port Chornomorsk with 15 crew on board, including 13 Indian seafarers, is trapped in a terrible and life-threatening situation.
Repeated drone and missile attacks are being attempted in the immediate vicinity of the… pic.twitter.com/tIIwuC9Mdk

— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) July 28, 2026

Meanwhile,the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is closely monitoring six Indian vessels and the welfare of 166 Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz amid escalation in attacks on commercial vessels during the ongoing conflict in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. Addressing the media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said six Indian vessels are currently located west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, carrying 125 Indian seafarers. Additionally, 41 Indian seafarers are on board foreign vessels in the region. “We have six Indian vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Persian Gulf, and there are 125 seafarers on board these Indian ships. In addition, there are 41 Indian seafarers on board foreign ships in that area,” Jaiswal said. He said the Ministry of Shipping is in close coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers in the region.