Kremlin responds after four Indians killed in Black Sea missile strike

Kremlin responds after four Indians killed: India and Russia Exchange Diplomatic Notes Following Black Sea Attack Theindiapostdaily.com – The Indian

India and Russia Exchange Diplomatic Notes Following Black Sea Attack

Theindiapostdaily.com – The Indian government has formally summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires, Vladimir Ladanov, to express serious concerns regarding the deadly missile strike that claimed four Indian lives aboard a commercial vessel in the Black Sea. The foreign ministry conveyed its unequivocal condemnation of the incident that occurred on Sunday evening.

According to official statements released Monday night, the MV Golden Leo was navigating away from Ukraine’s Odesa port when it came under attack. At that moment, seventeen crew members remained aboard the ship, five of whom held Indian nationality. Tragically, four of these Indian nationals perished in the assault, while one survivor remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Kremlin’s Position on the Incident

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, addressed the situation on Tuesday, confirming that Moscow maintains ongoing communications with Indian counterparts. While offering no concrete proof, the Russian official suggested the vessel may have been transporting military supplies destined for Ukraine.

“We are continuing our contacts with our Indian partners, explaining our position,” Peskov informed journalists. “Our armed forces are striking and will continue to strike those vessels involved in transporting weapons and ammunition.”

Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched three cruise missiles at the Golden Leo, which flew the Guinea-Bissau flag. The attack resulted in ten fatalities overall, with the Indian and Syrian crew members among those affected.

India’s Response and Ongoing Assistance

The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that commercial shipping routes must remain protected from such hostile actions. Officials described the targeting of civilian vessels and the endangerment of non-combatant crew members as deeply regrettable occurrences that warrant prevention.

Indian diplomatic representatives stationed in Ukraine are actively tracking developments and coordinating support for affected families and survivors. The government issued formal condolences to bereaved relatives while expressing hopes for the complete recovery of the injured sailor.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery,” the MEA stated in its official communication.

While avoiding direct attribution to Moscow in certain statements, Indian officials maintained that attacks disrupting maritime commerce and threatening innocent lives represent unacceptable conduct that must be addressed through diplomatic channels.