13 Indian crew members stranded on cargo ship at Ukraine port amid Russian drone attacks

Thirteen Indian seafarers are among the 15 crew members stranded aboard a cargo vessel at Ukraines Chornomorsk port where ongoing drone and missile attacks near the strategic Black Sea harbour have raised serious safety concerns according to the Forward Seamens Union of India FSUIThe sailors union warned that the crew is caught in what it described as a terrible and lifethreatening situation saying those onboard are living in constant fear of a direct hit at any moment as hostilities between Russia and Ukraine continue near the port reported IANSFSUI seeks urgent government interventionIn a post on X the FSUI appealed for immediate intervention by the Indian government and other stakeholders to ensure the crews safetyMV AMIR1 currently at the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk with 15 crew members onboard including 13 Indian seafarers is trapped in a terrible and lifethreatening situation the union said reported IANSThe union added Repeated drone and missile attacks are occurring in the immediate vicinity of the vessel The crew is living under constant fear of a direct hit at any momentThe FSUI urged the Indian government the shipowners the vessels flag state and other relevant authorities to take immediate steps to secure the crews safety and arrange for their early evacuation and repatriationVideo shows deteriorating security situationThe union also shared a video purportedly recorded from onboard the vessel showing thick plumes of smoke rising from areas surrounding the ship highlighting the deteriorating security situation at the Black Sea port the news agency reportedAs of now neither the Ministry of External Affairs MEA nor the shipping company operating the vessel has issued an official statement on the incidentSeries of attacks on merchant vesselsThe latest distress call comes amid a series of attacks involving merchant vessels operating in and around Ukraines southern coastline with the Black Sea increasingly emerging as a dangerous zone for civilian shippingOn July 18 the MV OMORFI was struck while transiting the Black Sea in Russian territorial waters The vessel had 10 crew members including three Indian nationals onboard One Indian seafarer was killed in the attack Following the incident the Embassy of India in Russia remained in contact with the concerned authoritiesA day later on July 19 Russia struck the MV GOLDEN LEO as it departed Ukraines Port of Odesa Four Indian seafarers were killed in the attack India subsequently summoned Russian Chargeacute dAffaires Vladimir Ladonov to lodge a strong protest over the strike on the merchant vesselWith these incidents at least five Indian seafarers were killed in separate attacks in the Black Sea last weekTwo Indian crew members still missingIn another incident the Palauflagged cargo vessel MV AGN Ragnar was hit near the Port of Odesa late on Saturday evening Two Indian seafarers who were onboard the vessel remain missingIndia protests repeated attacksIn the wake of the recent attacks India has summoned both Russian and Ukrainian diplomats to convey its strong protest over the repeated strikes affecting civilian merchant vesselsNew Delhi has also called for ensuring the safety and security of commercial shipping and civilian seafarers operating in international waters amid the ongoing conflictWith IANS inputs