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The Government of India has taken a very strict stance regarding the deadly attacks on commercial ships in the troubled waters of the Black Sea. On July 18, 2026, an Indian sailor died tragically in an attack on the commercial ship ‘MV OMORFI’ passing through Russian waters. Expressing deep grief over this incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clearly stated that endangering the lives of merchant ships and innocent civilians in international waters cannot be tolerated at any cost. Let us understand the full report of this sensitive incident from the perspective of an International Affairs and Foreign Policy reporter.
3 Indians were among the 10 crew members, one died
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal released an official statement on Friday confirming the tragic incident:
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Incident details: On July 18, when the commercial ship MV OMORFI was passing through Russian waters via the Black Sea, it was suddenly attacked.
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Indian Citizen: A total of 10 crew members were on board the ship, including 3 Indian nationals. In this attack, one Indian sailor lost his life on the spot, while two other Indians are said to be safe.
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Indian Mission Help: The Indian Embassy in Russia has immediately contacted the local authorities. The process of bringing the mortal remains of the deceased sailor to India and providing all possible assistance to the victim’s family is underway.
Strong message from the Ministry of External Affairs: “The threat to freedom of navigation is worrying”
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal strongly condemned these attacks on commercial shipping, saying:
“India unequivocally condemns such attacks targeting commercial shipping and endangering the lives of innocent civilian crew members. It is a matter of utmost concern that freedom of international navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global trade face increasing threats. All parties must abide by international rules.”
Second major accident right after ‘MV Golden Leo’
This attack on MV OMORFI is not the first incident. Just a day later, on July 19, another Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship ‘MV Golden Lion’ There was also a fatal attack.
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Odessa port incident: The ship was targeted shortly after leaving the Ukrainian port of Odessa.
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Death of 4 Indians: Of the 17 crew members on board that ship (most of whom were Indian and Syrian citizens), 5 were Indians. Four Indian sailors lost their lives in that attack, while one was seriously injured.
After the loss of lives of 5 Indian sailors in these gruesome attacks that took place over two consecutive days, the Indian government has demanded the global community to take strict measures to ensure maritime security and keep the supply chain safe.