Four Indian nationals were killed and another was critically injured after a cargo vessel came under attack while departing Ukraine's port of Odesa on the evening of July 19.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MV Golden Leo was attacked on the evening of July 19 while leaving the Black Sea port with 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals.
"As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalised in a critical condition. Our Mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected," the MEA said in a statement issued late Monday.
The ministry expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured sailor a speedy recovery.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery," it said.
India also strongly condemned the attack, reiterating its position against strikes on civilian shipping.
"India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided," the MEA said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that Indian nationals were among those killed in what he described as a Russian attack on a civilian vessel operating through Ukraine’s maritime corridor.
Calling it an attack on international shipping, Sybiha said, “A civilian ship. An international crew. A route serving global food security. Putin saw another target.”
The incident comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea. Sybiha said another foreign merchant vessel, flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, was attacked a day earlier, resulting in one death and three injuries.
(With inputs from Jayanth Jacob)