India Condemns Black Sea Shipping Attacks, Jaishankar Raises Seafarer Safety With Ukraine

India has strongly condemned attacks on commercial shipping and Indian seafarers in the Black Sea, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raising the issue during a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Thursday.

The high-level discussion came amid growing concerns over maritime security in the Black Sea following a series of attacks involving foreign-flagged vessels. Recent incidents have resulted in the deaths of five Indian seafarers, while two others remain missing. At the same time, 13 Indian crew members are reportedly stranded aboard a foreign-flagged vessel at Ukraine’s port of Chornomorsk, an area that has witnessed intensified Russian missile and drone strikes in recent days.

Following the conversation, Jaishankar said the two ministers discussed the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea, particularly the attacks targeting commercial shipping routes. He stressed that attacks on merchant vessels and civilian seafarers cannot be justified under any circumstances.

“Such attacks by any party are absolutely unacceptable and India condemns them unequivocally,” Jaishankar said, underlining New Delhi’s concern over the safety of maritime personnel and freedom of navigation in the region.

The Indian minister also highlighted the broader implications of ongoing conflicts around the world. He noted that multiple wars and geopolitical crises are creating uncertainty in global markets and disrupting critical supply chains. According to Jaishankar, these developments are having a significant impact on fuel availability, fertiliser supplies and food security, particularly for countries across the Global South that remain vulnerable to international market shocks.

During the call, Sybiha briefed Jaishankar on the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution. Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective path toward ending the war.

Ukraine, meanwhile, sought greater Indian involvement in efforts to secure peace. In a statement released after the conversation, Sybiha said he encouraged India to play a more active role in international peace initiatives. He argued that attacks on merchant shipping in the Black Sea have consequences that extend well beyond Ukraine and Europe, affecting global food supplies and international trade routes.

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According to the Ukrainian minister, strikes on civilian vessels undermine freedom of navigation and threaten global food security at a time when many countries remain dependent on grain exports moving through Black Sea corridors. He also linked the ongoing conflict to instability in international energy markets, saying the effects are being felt far beyond the immediate region.

Sybiha further informed Jaishankar about the outcomes of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to the United States and the discussions held there regarding military support, economic cooperation and diplomatic efforts.

The phone conversation followed reports from the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi that Kyiv had alerted Indian authorities to the worsening security environment in the Black Sea. The embassy had also indicated its desire for direct discussions between the two foreign ministers regarding the risks facing commercial shipping and foreign nationals in the region.

India has maintained a carefully balanced position throughout the Russia-Ukraine war. While refraining from publicly condemning Moscow over the conflict, New Delhi has consistently called for an immediate return to diplomacy and negotiations. Indian officials have repeatedly emphasized that the war’s consequences extend beyond the battlefield, affecting global food, fuel and fertiliser security.

As Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and Black Sea port infrastructure, concerns continue to grow over disruptions to grain exports and maritime trade. The latest conversation between Jaishankar and Sybiha underscores India’s increasing concern over the safety of its citizens and the wider impact of the conflict on global economic stability.