Vessel carrying four Indians struck at Odesa port in Ukraine, two confirmed safe
Kyiv, July 26
A merchant vessel carrying four Indian nationals on board was struck at the port of Odesa and two of them are safe while information is awaited regarding the other two persons, India's Embassy in Ukraine said on Sunday.
In a post on X, the Embassy said that search and rescue operations are being carried out.
The Indian Embassy also said that it is in touch with the concerned authorities.
"Embassy of India in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation following the incident involving MV AGN Ragnar which was struck at the Port of Odesa, on 25 July. Four Indian nationals were on board the vessel. As per the latest information, two have been confirmed safe, and information is awaited regarding the other two nationals. Search and rescue operations are underway. The Embassy is in constant touch with the concerned authorities," the Embassy said in a post on X.
The Indian Embassy also informed about the point of contact.
"Point of Contact, Embassy of India, Ukraine cons.kyiv@mea.gov.in, cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in Our Emergency contact no. - +380933559958 Mr. Aji Kumar, SS ( Consular) @MEAIndia," it said.
With the security situation in and around the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remaining highly volatile due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the government has advised Indian nationals intending to undertake employment on commercial vessels operating in the region to carefully assess the prevailing security risks before accepting such assignments.
In a detailed advisory for Indian nationals undertaking employment on commercial vessels operating in Black Sea region, the Ministry of External Affairs said it should be ensured that the terms of employment comply with applicable international maritime standards.
It said Indian nationals requiring consular assistance are advised to contact the Embassy of India or Consulates in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While it's good that two are confirmed safe, the uncertainty for the other two is deeply concerning. These are hardworking Indian seafarers risking their lives for their families. The MEA advisory about checking security risks before taking jobs in conflict zones is sensible, but we need better real-time support for those already at sea.
This is tragic - merchant vessels aren't military targets. The attack on Port Odesa shows the indiscriminate nature of this war. I hope the missing two are found soon and safe. The Indian Embassy's prompt response is commendable.
Another example of how ordinary people pay the price for geopolitical conflicts. These sailors are not soldiers - they're just doing their jobs to feed their families back home. I sincerely hope our government pushes for immediate ceasefire in these areas and ensures the safety of all Indian nationals abroad. 😔
It's alarming that this keeps happening despite international warnings. The MEA needs to coordinate more effectively with shipping companies to prevent Indian nationals from being assigned to vessels in conflict zones. Meanwhile, all efforts must go into locating the two missing seafarers.
I appreciate the Embassy providing emergency contact numbers and staying in constant touch with authorities. But we need a more proactive approach - perhaps a mandatory registry for Indian seafarers in high-risk zones so families and the government can track their movements in real-time. Praying for the two missing men. 🙏🇮🇳
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