An Indian merchant navy sailor, 22‑year‑old Ram Chandra Dubey from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has been missing for six days after the commercial vessel he was serving on came under a drone attack near Ukraine’s Odesa port. The incident occurred on July 25, leaving his family in a state of anguish as search operations continue with no confirmed trace of him.
Ram Chandra had only recently joined the merchant navy and was on his second overseas assignment, having left for duty in September last year. His last call home was on the night of July 24, when he told his mother that the ship had departed from Ukraine. Hours later, disaster struck.
According to reports, eight crew members were onboard the vessel, including multiple Indians. When the drone hit, the Indian sailors jumped into the sea to escape the explosion and fire. Ukrainian rescue teams managed to save two Indian crew members, but Ram Chandra has not been located despite extensive search efforts.
His family first attempted to gather information locally but received no clarity. On July 27, his elder brother Krishna Das Dubey and other relatives rushed to Delhi to meet officials from the shipping company. The company assured them that “every possible effort” was being made to find the missing sailor, but so far, no leads have emerged.
The disappearance has sparked concern in India’s maritime community, highlighting the growing risks faced by civilian vessels operating near conflict zones. Drone strikes in the Black Sea region have increased amid the ongoing war, putting merchant ships at heightened risk.