Ukraine Urges India to Act Over Stranded Black Sea Seafarers

Ukraine has urged India to take a firmer diplomatic stance against Russia following strikes on civilian merchant vessels in the Black Sea that left 13 Indian seafarers stranded aboard the vessel MV AMIR 1 at the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk. According to statements released by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, a total of 15 sailors, including the 13 Indian nationals, are trapped in a life-threatening situation at the port. Ukrainian authorities publicly questioned whether India's Ministry of External Affairs will summon Russia's ambassador to convey strong objections regarding the ongoing military risks targeting commercial shipping lanes.

The trapped maritime personnel face severe safety threats as military aggression along the Black Sea coastline continues to target vital port infrastructure and merchant transit routes. Civilian cargo ships docked at Chornomorsk have encountered mounting operational dangers, leaving foreign crews caught in active combat zones without immediate exit options. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India highlighted that the prolonged detention of crew members under hazardous conditions demands urgent diplomatic coordination to ensure their immediate safety and prevent further casualties among merchant navy workers operating in active conflict zones.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine reaffirmed that the safety and security of Indian seafarers remains its highest priority amid the continuous Black Sea hostilities. Indian diplomats are closely monitoring the developments to secure safe passage for the stranded crew while navigating complex regional geopolitical dynamics. The Ministry of External Affairs faces growing calls to actively engage both Moscow and Kyiv to establish humanitarian transit corridors, ensuring the swift and safe repatriation of all affected Indian mariners back to India.