India condemns Black Sea attack on MV Royad Mammadov that killed two seafarers and injured Indian crew

Black Sea strike on MV Royad Mammadov

On 5 October 2026 the cargo ship MV Royad Mammadov caught fire after what Indian officials described as a drone strike in the Black Sea. Romanian authorities reported that two foreign seafarers were killed and eleven crew members rescued. Three Indian nationals were among the crew; all are safe, though one was taken to a hospital in Constanţa for treatment. The vessel, which was flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis and owned by a Turkish company, was carrying corn bound for Ravenna, Italy, when the attack occurred.

Indian crew members and casualties

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the three Indian crew members are alive, with one receiving medical care in Romania. In a separate incident on the same day, the Panama‑flagged bulk carrier MT On Peace was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Of its 19 crew, 17 are Indian nationals. The MEA confirmed that 12 crew members were injured, including 11 Indians, and that they have been evacuated to Khasab, Oman for treatment.

Official reaction from New Delhi

In a statement issued on 6 October, the MEA condemned "the attack on MV ROYAD MAMMADOV in the Black Sea in which two foreign seafarers were killed and some members of the crew, including Indian nationals, injured" and also denounced "the attack earlier today on a Panama‑flagged commercial vessel MT On Peace (IMO 9893204) off the coast of Oman, where it was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

The ministry added that the targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure "severely undermines global commerce and the welfare of people across the world." It thanked Romanian and Omani authorities for their swift assistance and reiterated that "we continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts" and that navigation and commerce through international waterways must be restored "at the earliest."

Wider diplomatic context

The MEA highlighted a new multilateral initiative launched with Liberia at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026 – the 25‑nation "Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers" – aimed at safeguarding merchant crews from such attacks.

What is known about the perpetrators?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russian drones for the Black Sea strike, describing the vessel as a civilian, corn‑laden ship in neutral waters. No party has formally claimed responsibility for the projectile strike on MT On Peace.

Implications for global trade

Both the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz are vital arteries for world commerce. Repeated assaults on merchant vessels risk disrupting supply chains, inflating freight costs and endangering the lives of seafarers from dozens of nations, including India.

Next steps

The Indian government said it will continue to raise the issue in bilateral and multilateral forums, seeking concrete measures to protect commercial shipping and ensure the safety of Indian seafarers abroad.