Indian Crew Member Injured, Two Foreign Nationals Dead In Russian Drone Strike On Vessel In Black Sea
MV ROYAD MAMMADOV faced a Black Sea attack; three Indian crew are safe, one injured, while two foreign nationals died. India seeks answers.
MV ROYAD MAMMADOV Attacked in Black Sea: Indian Crew Safe, One Injured as Two Foreign Nationals Die in Commercial Vessel Attack
A commercial cargo vessel, MV ROYAD MAMMADOV, came under a reported Russian drone attack in the Black Sea on October 5, 2026, triggering a fire that eventually caused the vessel to sink. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of civilian shipping routes amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, two Russian drones struck the civilian vessel while it was carrying corn. The ship was Turkish-owned and had Indian and Azerbaijani nationals among its crew. Romanian authorities later confirmed that 11 crew members were rescued, while two people died in the incident.
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The vessel was reportedly sailing toward Ravenna, Italy, after departing from Ukraine’s Izmail port. It was registered under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Indian Crew Safe, One Sailor Injured
The incident initially created uncertainty over the condition of the Indian nationals onboard. However, the Embassy of India in Romania subsequently confirmed that all three Indian crew members were safe.
One Indian sailor was injured and received medical treatment in Romania. The embassy said it was maintaining close contact with the affected crew members and local authorities to ensure their safety and provide assistance. Akashvani News
Indian Ambassador to Romania Manoj Mohapatra also spoke with the three Indian nationals receiving treatment at Constanța Hospital. The hospital’s chief physician confirmed that the Indian crew members were in good health and receiving the necessary medical care. Akashvani News
This confirmation provided relief to the families and highlighted the important role of India’s diplomatic mission in responding quickly to incidents involving Indian seafarers abroad.
Two Foreign Nationals Dead After Commercial Vessel Attacked
The commercial vessel attacked in the Black Sea suffered extensive damage after the reported drone strike. Romanian authorities said 11 crew members were rescued, while two people were found dead.
Ukrainian officials attributed the attack to Russian drones, while Russian authorities had not immediately provided a specific comment on the incident. Reuters reported that Russia’s Defence Ministry had earlier announced strikes against cargo vessels but did not specifically identify the Royad Mammadov incident. Reuters
The attack occurred outside Romania’s territorial waters, although the vessel was inside Romania’s exclusive economic zone. The location underscores the growing security challenges facing commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy Condemns Attack
Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the reported attack, describing it as a strike on a civilian vessel. He said the ship was carrying corn and that Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were among those onboard.
Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of protecting civilian navigation and maintaining secure maritime routes. The Black Sea remains an important corridor for the movement of agricultural commodities, particularly grain and corn originating from Ukraine. AP News
Any disruption to commercial shipping in the region can have consequences beyond the immediate conflict zone because the Black Sea plays a significant role in international food and commodity supply chains.
S Jaishankar Calls Attack Completely Unacceptable
India has also reacted strongly to the incident. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers as completely unacceptable.
Jaishankar has repeatedly emphasized the need to protect commercial vessels and their crews, particularly as maritime security risks have increased across the Black Sea, Red Sea and Gulf region. He has stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the preferred way to address the wider Russia-Ukraine conflict. Moneycontrol
His comments come at a time when Indian seafarers are working aboard vessels operating across several strategically important but increasingly dangerous maritime routes.
Growing Black Sea Shipping Risks
The Black Sea attack involving MV ROYAD MAMMADOV highlights the risks faced by civilian vessels operating close to active conflict zones. Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, the region has experienced attacks involving ports, drones and other military threats.
For international shipping companies, maintaining safe passage through the region has become increasingly challenging. Merchant vessels carrying agricultural products continue to use routes connected to Ukrainian ports, making maritime security a major international concern.
The incident also demonstrates how conflicts can directly affect workers from countries that are not parties to the fighting. Indian sailors frequently serve on foreign-owned and foreign-flagged commercial vessels, meaning their safety can depend on security conditions far beyond India’s territorial waters.
India Monitoring the Situation
The Indian diplomatic mission remains engaged with Romanian authorities and medical officials following the incident. With all three Indian crew members confirmed safe and one receiving treatment, attention is now focused on their recovery and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The sinking of MV ROYAD MAMMADOV, the deaths of two foreign nationals and injuries among the crew have once again brought civilian maritime safety into focus. As tensions continue in the Black Sea, governments and international organisations face growing pressure to protect commercial shipping and the seafarers who keep global trade moving.
For India, the immediate priority remains the welfare of its nationals, while the wider diplomatic message is clear: attacks that endanger civilian ships and seafarers cannot be treated as a normal consequence of con
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