India Condemns Russian Drone Attack on Black Sea Cargo Ship as Indian Sailor Injured
In a sharp diplomatic escalation, India has strongly condemned a Russian drone strike on a Turkish civilian commercial vessel in the Black Sea near Romanian territorial waters that left at least two crew members dead and several others injured, including an Indian national. The attacked vessel, identified as the commercial cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov, caught fire immediately after taking direct hits from aerial drones during its transit. Confirming the incident through an official statement, the Embassy of India in Romania stated that three Indian nationals were serving as crew members aboard the targeted ship when the explosions triggered severe onboard fires, forcing maritime emergency rescue units to evacuate the survivors to medical facilities on the Romanian mainland.
Indian Embassy Confirms Sailor’s Stable Condition in Constanta County Hospital
Diplomatic missions mobilized swiftly following the strike to secure medical care and support for the Indian maritime personnel. Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mahapatra established direct contact with the three Indian nationals admitted to the Constanta County Hospital and consulted with the facility’s chief medical officer. The hospital administration confirmed that all three Indian citizens are currently stable, in good health, and receiving necessary medical care for their injuries. The Indian Mission affirmed that it remains in continuous coordination with Romanian port authorities and hospital teams to monitor the recovery of the injured seafarer while extending comprehensive consular assistance and repatriation support.
EAM S. Jaishankar Slams Maritime Hostilities; Zelensky Urges Global Pressure on Black Sea Safety
Reacting firmly to the targeting of civilian cargo vessels, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar denounced the aggression, stating unequivocally that strikes directed against non-combatant maritime shipping—spanning from the Black Sea corridors to the Gulf region—are completely unacceptable under international humanitarian law. Emphasizing India's active diplomatic engagement with both Kyiv and Moscow to resolve the conflict, Jaishankar noted that gridlock and institutional resistance to reform within the United Nations have paralyzed multilateral peacekeeping, reiterating that lasting stability can only emerge through sincere dialogue and diplomacy. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 11 crew members had been rescued while confirming the tragic death of the ship's captain, emphasizing that the presence of Azerbaijani and Indian seafarers aboard commercial vessels underscores the urgent need for international pressure to secure commercial shipping lanes and protect global maritime supply chains.
