Three Indian seafarers aboard the MV Royad Mammadov came through a deadly attack in the Black Sea alive, the government has confirmed. Two crew members of other nationalities died in the strike, and the ship’s other casualties are being treated in Romania.
The incident came to light on Monday, when the Indian Embassy in Romania said on X that it had learned of an attack on the vessel. Early reports spoke of two dead, both foreign nationals, with several others hurt and hospitalised in Romania. The mission also noted that Indians were among those on board and said it was working with local authorities to find out how they had fared.
Within hours, it had its answer. Embassy staff reached all three Indians directly, and the mission reported that one had been injured but was receiving medical care. Ambassador Manoj Mohapatra later visited by phone with the men at Constanța County Hospital and consulted the hospital’s chief physician, who told him that all three were in good health and getting the treatment they needed. The ambassador said the embassy would continue to assist them.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack in a formal statement. It said Romanian authorities had rescued the wounded and thanked Bucharest for moving quickly. The ministry also said that going after ships in international waters was hurting global trade and the livelihoods of ordinary people far beyond the conflict zone, and it urged the warring sides to choose negotiation and diplomacy.
The statement also referred to India’s recent diplomatic effort on maritime security. In September, during the UN General Assembly, New Delhi and Liberia launched a 25-country “Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers,” created to safeguard merchant ships and their crews from targeted violence.
