At least 21 Indian sailors are stranded on board a merchant ship docked at Ukraine’s Mykolaiv port after the military operation launched by Russia.

The crew has confined itself to the vessel since February 25 after the military operation started. The vessel is one amongst 25 docked at the port after work has come to a standstill.

The vessel docked at Mykolaiv on February 22, and after unloading a cargo of corn, was scheduled to sail out on February 25. However,  there is a blockade in the Black Sea clamped by the Russian navy as a result of which no vessels are able to sail out.

According to a Times of India report at least 4 of the 21 Indian crew members stranded are from Maharashtra. The newspaper cited one of them as saying: “There is no shortage of food as of now although there was some water shortage initially which was resolved…It is not safe to step out of the port. Travel by road is not advisable. We are hoping for a safe passage when port operations resume.”

The Director-General of Shipping and the manning company in Mumbai VR Maritime which had hired the crew members are reported to be in touch with Indian diplomats and the ministry of external affairs.

However, the wife of one other sailor on the ship alleged inaction by the Mumbai-based firm that operates the vessel.

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