India Condemns Targeting of Three Commercial Ships in the Black Sea

New Delhi, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned on Wednesday the attacks on three commercial vessels in the Black Sea: the Alpha Natya, flying the Togo flag; the Able, flying the Palau flag; and the Aframax Rio, flying the Liberia flag. In a statement, the ministry noted that seven of the 18 crew members aboard the Able are Indian nationals, and one of them was injured in the incident. It added that the crew members were evacuated and transferred to the Bulgarian city of Varna with the assistance of Bulgarian authorities, and that the injured crew member is receiving necessary medical care. The ministry clarified that all 23 crew members aboard the Aframax Rio are Indian nationals and have been rescued, while details regarding the crew of the Alpha Natya are still pending. It stressed that the ongoing attacks on commercial vessels remain a matter of deep concern for India, calling for an immediate halt to such attacks to ensure peace and stability. These remarks come amid escalating risks to commercial navigation in the Black Sea against the backdrop of the war between Russia and Ukraine, with repeated attacks on ships and growing concerns over the safety of cargo and grain transport routes through the region. (End) a.t.k./f.l.a.