NEW DELHI — India summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires on Tuesday to protest a deadly attack on the commercial cargo vessel MV Golden Leo in the Black Sea that killed four Indian seafarers, calling the targeting of civilian shipping "unacceptable" and demanding that such incidents not be repeated.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said it conveyed its "grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation" to Russian Chargé d'Affaires Vladimir Ladanov over the July 19 strike, which resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals aboard the Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel. The ministry said attacks on commercial shipping undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.
The ministry said Ladanov was asked to relay India's concerns to Moscow and stressed that the targeting of merchant vessels and the resulting loss of civilian lives were unacceptable. New Delhi did not announce any additional diplomatic measures.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the Golden Leo was struck by Russian cruise missiles while departing the Ukrainian port of Odesa through a designated maritime corridor. Ukrainian officials said the vessel, carrying a multinational crew that included Indian and Syrian nationals, sustained a direct hit that killed 10 people in total. Ukraine attributed the attack to Russian forces.
Russia has not accepted responsibility for unlawfully targeting civilians. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow remained in contact with Indian authorities and maintained that Russian forces would continue striking vessels they believe are transporting military cargo for Ukraine.
The Golden Leo is owned by Mumbai-based Ocean Grace Shipping Ltd., according to Reuters and Indian officials. The incident marked the first confirmed deaths of Indian seafarers linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict since the full-scale war began in 2022.
India has maintained relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the conflict while repeatedly calling for dialogue and respect for international law. The protest over the Golden Leo attack represents one of New Delhi's strongest public diplomatic responses to an incident involving Russian military action that resulted in Indian casualties.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it would continue to monitor the situation and pursue the matter through diplomatic channels as efforts continue to account for those affected and assess the circumstances surrounding the attack.
