13 Indians stranded aboard cargo vessel in Ukraine amid drone strikes: Report
New Delhi: 13 Indians are among the 15 crew members stranded on a cargo vessel in Ukraine. The vessel is stranded at the Chornomorsk port and has been facing multiple drone and missile attacks. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) said that the attacks have put the seamen in a “life threatening situation.”
In a post on social media platform, ‘X’, the FSUI made an urgent appeal and said, “M.V. AMIR1, currently at Ukrainian port Chornomorsk with 15 crew on board, including 13 Indian seafarers, is trapped in a terrible and life-threatening situation.”
Urgent Appeal | M.V. AMIR1
M.V. AMIR1, currently at Ukrainian port Chornomorsk with 15 crew on board, including 13 Indian seafarers, is trapped in a terrible and life-threatening situation.
Repeated drone and missile attacks are being attempted in the immediate vicinity of the… pic.twitter.com/tIIwuC9Mdk— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) July 28, 2026
They further said that repeated drone and missile attacks are being attempted in the immediate vicinity of the vessel. The crew is living under constant fear of a direct hit at any moment.
The FSUI urged the government to look into the matter. They said, “We urgently appeal to all concerned authorities, shipowners, flag state, and the Government of India to immediately secure their safety and arrange prompt repatriation.”
They urged the government to not leave the Indian seafarers as sitting targets in the conflict zones.
The Union said that missile and drone attacks were being carried out in the immediate vicinity of the commercial ship. This, they said, had left the seafarers in deep fear. They claimed that the crew was living in fear of a direct hit anytime.
They have urged the shipowners, the vessel’s flag state, the relevant authorities and also the Indian government to immediately intervene in the matter and save the seafarers. They urged their immediate evacuation.
This comes just a day after the Ministry of External Affairs raised the issue of Indian seafarers in the Black Sea, with Ukraine. The MEA had summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to India, Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk after an attack on the merchant vessel MV OMORFI near the Ukrainian port of Odessa. This vessel had 4 Indians on board.
The MEA said that the attack led to the death of 1 Indian and condemned the targeting of commercial vessels in the “strongest terms.” It said that this was a threat to maritime safety, freedom of navigation and international commerce. It urged Ukraine to ensure that commercial vessels are not attacked in future.