ILOILO City — A seafarer from Valderrama, Antique was among the two Filipino crew members killed after a Russian missile struck a commercial vessel off southern Ukraine, with Philippine authorities warning of worsening security conditions in the Black Sea amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The fatality was identified as Jude Prado Pagunsan, a resident of Sitio Wayang, Barangay Ubos, Valderrama, Antique, who was serving aboard the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Supramax bulk carrier Venturo when it was hit by missiles while docked at the Port of Pivdennyi on July 18. He is survived by his wife and children.
Antique Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Karmila Rose Dimamay, together with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 6 representative Jumerin Nicolas, personally visited the bereaved family on Tuesday to inform them of Pagunsan’s death and extend government assistance.
The Russia-Ukraine war is an ongoing, large-scale interstate conflict that began in February 2014 when Russia covertly invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula. The war escalated dramatically on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War 2.
“As Chairperson of the SP Committee on Foreign Relations, Labor and Employment, kaimaw ka OWWA Office represented by Jumerin Nicolas, aton gin bisita kag nag koordinar kita sa pamilya ka Antiqueño Seafarer nga napatay kay naigo anda barko ka gina patihan nga missile sa Ukriane,” Dimamay said.
Just days before the deadly attack, Pagunsan had shared on Facebook a post about another vessel that had been hit by a drone strike at a Ukrainian port in the Black Sea, writing the caption, “Sail in peace, Sirs!”
In an emotional Facebook post, Pagunsan’s wife, Glenn Ates, lamented that their children had been waiting for his return.
“Nag-share kaw pa kan bhe, pero kamo gani ang gisunod nila ug bomba. Grabe man sila oi, wala may kalooy gyud. Ngano man nga nagtrabaho lang man mo, ngano man nga ikaw pa gyud. Daya mo bah hulat pa kami kanimo mauli ikaw. Ang mga bata mo nagap kanimo mauli man c Papa, Ma,” she wrote.
The Black Sea is a crucial corridor for the transport of world oil, gas, food, and telecommunications. Many international ships – several manned by Filipino seafarers – pass through it.
The Black Sea is also a vital economic and strategic battleground in the Russia-Ukraine war, serving as the primary gateway for Ukraine’s agricultural exports and providing Russia with its key warm-water ports and military power projection into the Mediterranean.
The Pagunsan family has appealed to the Philippine government and the shipping company to expedite the recovery and repatriation of Jude’s remains.
“Sana matulungan po kami na mapadali ang pagkuha ng bangkay sa loob ng barko, kung maari lang po sana. Magahulat po kami na sana may impormasyon na para mapanatag na ang isipan at kalooban sang pamilya,” said sister-in-law, Nehj Tesa.
Another relative, Zhel Pgns, also appealed for international assistance.
“Please help us! To recover our cousin’s body (Jude Pagunsan) and return it to the Philippines. Hope this message will spread to the entire world. We are seeking for help and assistance. This would truly matter most,” the relative said.
According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Pagunsan was one of two Filipino seafarers killed in a series of attacks on commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea. Twelve other Filipino crew members were injured, while one remains missing.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the department has recorded a significant escalation in attacks involving ships with Filipino crew members over the past two weeks.
“We have noted that there are commercial vessels with Filipino seafarers operating within the Black Sea. And it is an area covered by the International Bargaining Forum as a higher risk and warlike area and designated as well by the DMW in an issuance as a warlike area. Advisory 41 Series of 2026 notes that the Black Sea area, the northern Black Sea region especially, is a high-risk or warlike zone,” Cacdac said.
As of July 20, the DMW said nine vessels carrying about 139 Filipino seafarers had reportedly come under attack, mostly through drone strikes while berthed or transiting ports in Ukraine and Russia.
“And as I mentioned, northern Black Sea ito, pero (this, but) southern portion of Ukraine. Now, 139. And we are sad to report that there have been two fatalities out of these attacks, 12 injured and one missing,” Cacdac said.
The DMW said 124 Filipino seafarers have been confirmed safe, while evacuation, medical treatment, psychological support, and repatriation efforts continue for the affected crew members.
The agency also reiterated its advisory urging ship owners to avoid or reroute voyages through war-risk areas whenever possible and to fully inform Filipino seafarers of their right to refuse deployment to such zones./PN
