India summons Russian envoy after missile strike kills 4 Indians on cargo ship
New Delhi called the targeting of commercial shipping "unacceptable" after four Indian nationals were killed in a missile strike on a cargo vessel in the Black Sea.
India today (20 July) summoned Russia's Chargé d'Affaires, Vladimir Ladanov, to convey its "grave concerns" and condemn a missile strike on a commercial cargo ship in the Black Sea that killed four Indian nationals.
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the attack targeted the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MV Golden Leo on 19 July as it was departing a Ukrainian port.
Ukraine said Russia fired three cruise missiles at the vessel, which was crewed by Indian and Syrian nationals. The strike reportedly killed 10 people, including four Indians.
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In a statement, the MEA said it had conveyed India's "grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation" of the attack.
"Today, the Russian Chargé d'Affaires, Mr Vladimir Ladanov, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministry conveyed India's grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo on 19 July, which resulted in the tragic loss of four Indian lives, emphasizing that such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce," the statement said.
The ministry said Ladanov was asked to convey India's strong concerns to the Russian government and was told that attacks on commercial shipping resulting in civilian casualties were "unacceptable" and must be avoided.
The latest incident comes after India also lost seafarers during the recent Iran conflict, following which New Delhi lodged protests with both the United States and Iran over the deaths of Indian nationals.
