New Delhi: India Monday summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk and lodged a strong protest over 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, 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.
“The ministry conveyed its serious concern over the incident and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms, underscoring their adverse impact on the safety of maritime navigation, freedom of navigation, and international commerce,” it said in a statement.
It said the ambassador was “requested to convey to the Ukrainian authorities India’s strong concerns over the targeting of commercial vessels and reiterated that such actions, which endanger the lives of innocent civilian seafarers, are unacceptable and must be avoided”.
India on last Tuesday summoned the Russian charge d’affaires and conveyed an “unequivocal condemnation” of a Russian attack on a merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine that killed 10 people, including four Indian crew members.
In a statement, the embassy of Ukraine in New Delhi said it extended its “profound sympathy” to the families of the Indian seafarers who lost their lives as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea.
It said Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sent a condolence letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar following the incident.
The embassy of Ukraine extends its profound sympathy to the families of the Indian seafarers who lost their lives as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea, it said.
The Ukraine mission also hoped that Sybiha and Jaishankar will hold a conversation soon on the security situation in the Black Sea region in line with a proposal made by the Ukrainian foreign minister.
The embassy also appeared to hold Russia responsible for precarious security situation in the maritime domain in Black Sea and Sea of Azov, and indicated that Kyiv is only taking preventative action.
“The Embassy of Ukraine in India firmly believes that threats and risks to civilian navigation arising from Russia’s aggressive actions in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov can be minimised through an immediate response to any preventive warnings regarding the security situation in the region,” it said.
“Throughout the war, Ukraine has consistently warned its international partners, including senior Indian officials, about the growing threats to civilian navigation arising from Russia’s actions in the Black Sea,” it said.
The mission said Ukraine has also informed its partners about the measures it is “taking to prevent the delivery of military cargo and disrupt logistical routes used to sustain Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”.
“Ukraine also takes note of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, Government of India (DGMA) Circular 41, dated July 23 issuing a maritime security advisory for Indian ships and foreign-flagged vessels with Indian seafarers transiting or operating in the Black Sea,” the embassy said.
It said Ukraine “firmly believes that timely and preventive action” by competent authorities is vital to protecting seafarers, ensuring the safety of civilian navigation, and strengthening international maritime security in regions where such threats are clearly identified.
“The only sustainable way to restore maritime security is to increase international pressure on the Russian Federation to end its attacks on civilian shipping,” it said.
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