Indian Embassy Monitors Odessa Port Strike; 2 of 4 Crew Safe

The Indian embassy in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation after a vessel carrying four Indian crew members was struck at the Odessa port. Two of the four have been confirmed safe. Authorities are yet to confirm the fate of the remaining two.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of the Black Sea maritime corridor, which India has now officially termed 'highly volatile'.

Embassy on Alert

Officials at the Indian embassy in Kyiv are in touch with local authorities and ship operators. The embassy said it is working to verify the status of all crew members and provide necessary assistance.

The vessel was hit in what appears to be a strike on the port. Details of the attack, including the type of vessel and its cargo, have not been officially released.

Black Sea Advisory Issued

In response to the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a fresh advisory for Indian sailors. The advisory calls the Black Sea corridor 'highly volatile' and warns of significant security risks.

The MEA has asked Indian nationals to assess security risks before taking up jobs in the Black Sea region. This follows a series of incidents that have led to the deaths of at least five Indian sailors in the area over recent months.

Rising Toll on Indian Sailors

Sunday's strike adds to a growing list of incidents involving Indian seafarers in the conflict zone. At least five Indian sailors have died in Black Sea-related incidents prior to this event.

The government has not yet released the names of the four crew members involved in the latest strike. Family members of the missing sailors are anxiously awaiting updates from officials.

What Comes Next

The embassy is expected to release a detailed update once the fate of all four crew members is confirmed. The MEA's advisory is likely to remain in effect as long as the security situation in the Black Sea remains unstable.