In touch with Ukraine as 2 Indians still missing after Odesa port strike: Govt
India is continuing efforts to trace two Indian nationals who remain missing after a merchant vessel came under attack at Ukraine's Port of Odesa, the
India is continuing efforts to trace two Indian nationals who remain missing after a merchant vessel came under attack at Ukraine's Port of Odesa, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday, as concerns grow over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the conflict-hit Black Sea. The vessel, MV AGN Ragnar, was struck near the Odesa port on July 25. Four Indian nationals were on board at the time of the attack. While two have been confirmed safe, search operations are still underway for the remaining two. Read Full Story The clarification from the MEA comes amid a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea as Russia and Ukraine continue to target each other's port infrastructure and maritime routes during the more than four-year-long war. The conflict has sharply increased risks for civilian vessels operating in the region, prompting India's concerns after 5 Indian sailors were killed in attacks in recent months. SEARCH FOR TWO INDIANS CONTINUES MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Indian authorities remain in constant contact with officials in Ukraine as efforts continue to locate the missing crew members. "Regarding the incident that took place near the Odesa port, as we had informed you earlier, there were four Indian nationals on board. Two Indian nationals are safe, while two are still missing.
Search efforts are ongoing, and we are in continuous contact with the local authorities there. At the same time, we have also established contact with the families of the two missing Indian nationals. We are making every possible effort to provide whatever assistance we can and remain fully engaged in those efforts." The Indian Embassy in Kyiv had earlier said it was closely monitoring developments following the attack on MV AGN Ragnar and was coordinating with the relevant authorities to establish the status of the missing sailors. "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 July 25," the mission had said. It added, "As per the latest information, two have been confirmed safe, and information is awaited regarding the other two nationals." BLACK SEA REMAINS A HIGH-RISK ZONE The incident has once again highlighted the growing dangers faced by merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea, where commercial shipping has increasingly found itself caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Odesa, Ukraine's largest Black Sea port, has remained a frequent target of missile and drone attacks since the war began in 2022. Despite continued commercial activity, maritime routes in the region have become increasingly hazardous for civilian vessels.
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