India summons Ukraine envoy, lodges protest over killing of Indian in attack on merchant vessel
The Indian government has summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador to lodge a formal protest following the death of an Indian seafarer in a drone strike on the merchant vessel MV Omorfi. India has condemned the attack, emphasizing the danger such actions pose to civilian maritime navigation and international commerce.
Why it matters
This incident marks a significant diplomatic escalation between India and Ukraine, highlighting the risks to neutral commercial shipping during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk on Monday (July 27, 2026) and lodged a strong protest over the killing of an Indian seafarer in an attack on a merchant vessel in the Black Sea last week.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it conveyed to the envoy New Delhi's serious concern over the incident and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms.
The vessel MV Omorfi reportedly came under Ukrainian drone strikes amid fresh hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
"Today, the Ambassador of Ukraine to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in connection with the attack on the commercial vessel MV Omorfi which resulted in the tragic death of an Indian national," the MEA said.
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