India on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, summoned Russian Chargé d’Affaires Vladimir Ladanov to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi following the deadly attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo off Ukraine’s coast.
The Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship was struck by Russian cruise missiles while departing the port of Odesa on July 19. The attack killed four Indian crew members and left one critically injured, among a total of 17 crew onboard.
The Ministry of External Affairs conveyed India’s “grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation” of the strike, stressing that such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce.
India demanded that Moscow ensure accountability, stating that “the targeting of commercial shipping and the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable and must be avoided.”
The Indian mission in Ukraine is providing assistance to the injured crew member and coordinating efforts to repatriate the bodies of the deceased. Condolences were extended to the families of those killed.
This marks the first instance of Indian seafarers being killed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The incident has heightened concerns about the safety of Indian nationals working in global shipping routes, already strained by recent attacks in the Black Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
Ukraine’s authorities accused Russia of deliberately targeting the vessel, which was carrying grain. The strike triggered a fire onboard, leading to multiple casualties, including nine other crew members and a Ukrainian pilot.
India reiterated its call for the protection of civilian shipping and freedom of navigation, urging an end to attacks that endanger innocent lives and disrupt international trade.
