As the Strait of Hormuz remains unsafe for ships due to non-stop attack by Iranian forces, now Black Sea is also becoming dangerous for ships operating in the region. As a result, the Ministry of External Affairs has now flagged serious risks in the Black Sea region arising from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The MEA has issued an advisory for Indian nationals undertaking employment on commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea, urging the highest degree of caution in view of repeated attacks on merchant shipping that have already claimed Indian lives.
MEA stated that commercial vessels operating in or transiting Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas are facing significant security risks, including missile and drone attacks. Since April 2026, there has been an increase in the number of such incidents on commercial vessels, which has also resulted in the tragic loss of 5 Indian lives.
Therefore, the ministry said that Indian nationals intending to undertake employment on commercial vessels operating in or transiting the conflict-affected region are advised to carefully assess the prevailing security risks before accepting such assignments. Those who choose to undertake such employment should exercise the utmost caution and observe precautions.
Indians working on commercial vessels are advised to obtain comprehensive information from employers/ recruitment agencies and ship operators regarding the vessel’s intended route, ports of call, security arrangements, insurance coverage, and emergency response procedures. They have been further asked to ensure that the terms of employment comply with applicable international maritime standards and provide adequate provisions for medical care, evacuation, repatriation, and compensation in the event of an emergency.
The ministry asked them to keep family members informed of their itinerary and maintain regular contact. The advisory also asks to regularly monitor and comply with advisories issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, and other relevant Government of India authorities, as well as safety instructions issued by vessel operators and the competent maritime authorities. In particular, Indian nationals are advised to refer to the recent Security Advisory issued by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on 23 July 2026.
Indian nationals requiring consular assistance are advised to contact the Embassy of India or Consulates in the region.
The advisory comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in strikes on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. On 19 July 2026, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged bulk carrier MV Golden Leo, which had loaded grain cargo and was departing the Ukrainian port of Odesa, was struck by missiles. According to available information and Ukrainian accounts, three cruise missiles hit the vessel, sparking a major fire. Of the 17 crew members on board, five of them Indian nationals, ten people lost their lives, including four Indians, while one Indian seafarer was critically injured.
Identified among the deceased were Chief Officer Akhil Joyan, a 26-year-old from Kerala who was due to get married in about two months, Ordinary Seaman Abhishek Nishad from Uttar Pradesh, and Gurpreet Singh Bath from Yamunanagar in Haryana. India lodged a strong diplomatic protest, summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires, and conveyed grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation, stressing that targeting commercial shipping and endangering civilian seafarers is unacceptable.
The Indian Mission in Ukraine has been extending all possible assistance. India also clarified that, as per information from the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, the vessel was carrying grain and not military supplies, as suggested in some Russian statements.
Barely a day earlier, on 18 July 2026, another commercial vessel, the MV Omorfi, was attacked while transiting the Black Sea, reportedly in Russian territorial waters near Novorossiysk. The ship had ten crew members, including three Indian nationals. One Indian, identified by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India as Chief Officer Sagar Gupta, was killed; the other two Indians are safe. The MEA issued a statement expressing deepest condolences to the bereaved family, noting that the Indian Mission in Russia is reaching out to authorities and providing assistance.
India unequivocally condemned attacks targeting commercial shipping that place innocent civilian crew members at risk, observing that freedom of navigation and international commerce face increasing threats, and called upon all parties to uphold international obligations for the safety and security of maritime navigation. Reports linked the strike to Ukrainian drone operations against vessels associated with Russia’s so-called shadow fleet as part of broader actions in the Black and Azov seas. These two incidents within a week have taken the toll of Indian merchant seafarers killed in the Ukraine war to five.
Maritime authorities have noted multiple earlier incidents involving Indian seafarers on foreign-flagged ships in the region since April, including attacks on tankers near Novorossiysk that caused damage and forced crew changes. In this context, India’s Directorate General of Maritime Administration has advised that the highest degree of caution be exercised while operating in the Black Sea and that voyage-specific security risk assessments be undertaken before entering the area.
While the situation in Black Sea has deteriorated, Strait of Hormuz continues to be dangerous for ships due to the ongoing Iran and repeated breakdown of ceasefires. Several Indians have died in attacks on vessels, mostly petroleum tankers by Iranian forces.
