Jaishankar raises safety of Indian seafarers with Russia's Lavrov after Black Sea attack

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday raised concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila.

The discussion came days after four Indian nationals were killed in a reported Russian strike on a commercial cargo vessel in the Black Sea off Ukraine's coast.

According to the Indian readout of the meeting, Jaishankar "reiterated strong concern regarding the safety of Indian seafarers in the region." The issue has gained urgency after the attack on MV Golden Leo, which claimed the lives of four Indian crew members and left another critically injured.

The latest intervention follows New Delhi's formal diplomatic protest to Moscow earlier this week over the attack, which India said had endangered civilian shipping and resulted in the loss of innocent lives.

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India lodges strong protest with Russia

On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Russian Chargé d'Affaires Vladimir Ladanov and conveyed India's "grave concerns" and "unequivocal condemnation" of the reported attack on MV Golden Leo.

The MEA said the strike on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged commercial vessel had resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals and undermined the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

India also urged Russia to ensure that commercial shipping is not targeted during military operations. The ministry said attacks on civilian vessels and the resulting loss of innocent lives were "unacceptable and must be avoided."

Four Indians killed in Black Sea strike

According to the MEA, MV Golden Leo was departing Ukraine's southern port of Odesa on July 19 when it came under attack.

The cargo vessel had a crew of 17, including five Indian nationals. Four Indian sailors were killed in the strike, while the fifth crew member sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalised. Overall, 10 crew members reportedly lost their lives in the attack.

The incident marks one of the deadliest attacks involving Indian seafarers in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Growing concern over attacks on Indian sailors

The deaths aboard MV Golden Leo are the latest in a series of incidents involving Indian seafarers caught in conflict zones.

In recent months, Indian sailors have also been killed in attacks linked to the conflict in the Persian Gulf involving the United States and Iran. Following those incidents, India had summoned diplomats from both countries and expressed strong concerns over the safety of Indian nationals serving aboard commercial vessels.

Despite repeated diplomatic interventions, attacks affecting commercial shipping in international waters have continued, raising concerns over the risks faced by Indian seafarers working on global maritime routes.

New Delhi has consistently stressed that civilian shipping must not become a casualty of armed conflicts and that the safety of Indian seafarers remains a top priority.