India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, strongly condemned the attack on commercial vessel MV Royad Mammadov in the Black Sea, in which two foreign seafarers were killed and three Indian nationals were among the injured crew members. The injured have since been rescued by Romanian authorities and are receiving medical attention at a hospital in Constanța, Romania.

What the MEA Said

In an official statement, the MEA condemned the assault in unambiguous terms. 'We condemn 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. The injured have been rescued by Romanian authorities and are receiving medical attention. The three Indian nationals, who were part crew of the ship, are safe. We thank Romanian authorities for their swift action in this incident,' the statement read.

The ministry further warned of the broader threat to global trade and maritime welfare: 'India views these attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers with grave concern. The targeting of traffic in international waterways is severely undermining global commerce and the welfare of people across the world. We continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts.'

Condition of the Three Indian Nationals

The Indian Embassy in Romania confirmed that all three Indian nationals were crew members aboard the stricken vessel. In an early-morning post on Tuesday (India time), the Embassy stated: 'All three Indian nationals are safe. We have spoken to them. One of them has been injured and is receiving medical attention. We are in close touch with the hospital authorities. We are extending all possible support for the welfare and well-being of the Indian crew members.'

Ambassador Manoj Mohapatra personally spoke with the three Indian nationals undergoing treatment at Constanța County Hospital. According to the Embassy, the hospital's Chief Physician confirmed that all three are in good health and receiving necessary care. The Ambassador assured them of all possible assistance and support from the Indian mission.

How the Rescue Unfolded

According to the Embassy's preliminary communication, the attack occurred earlier on Tuesday, with initial reports confirming two casualties — both foreign nationals — and multiple crew members injured. Romanian authorities moved swiftly to rescue the survivors and transport them to medical facilities. The Embassy noted it was in 'close contact with relevant authorities' from the outset to ascertain details about the safety of Indian nationals.

Notably, this incident underscores the continued vulnerability of commercial shipping in international waters amid ongoing regional conflicts, which analysts argue have disproportionately raised risks for civilian merchant crews.

India's Broader Push for Maritime Safety

The attack comes against the backdrop of a diplomatic initiative India co-led just weeks earlier. In September 2026, India and Liberia jointly launched a new 25-nation 'Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers' at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, aimed at protecting merchant crews and commercial vessels from targeted attacks. Tuesday's incident lends fresh urgency to that multilateral effort, raising questions about enforcement and deterrence mechanisms the group may need to adopt.

With global shipping lanes under continued pressure, India's response — spanning a ministerial condemnation, direct ambassador-level outreach, and active coordination with Romanian hospital authorities — signals a heightened posture in defending the welfare of its seafarers abroad. All eyes will now be on the investigation into who carried out the attack and whether the Group of Friends mechanism can translate diplomatic solidarity into concrete protection for crews.