India Summons Russian Envoy After Four Indian Seafarers Killed in Missile Attack Near Ukraine
India summoned the Russian charge d'affaires (CDA) on Tuesday to lodge a strong protest over the killing of four Indian seafarers aboard a civilian merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine. The vessel, MV Golden Leo, was hit by Russian cruise missiles on July 19, 2026, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the Russian CDA, Vladimir Ladanov, was called in and conveyed India's grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the attack. The MEA stressed that such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce.
“The Russian Chargé d’Affaires was requested to convey India’s strong concerns to his authorities that the targeting of commercial shipping and the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable and must be avoided,” the MEA said in a press release.
The MV Golden Leo, flagged to Guinea-Bissau, was navigating Ukraine's maritime corridor when it came under attack. It had 17 crew members, including five Indian nationals. Four Indians were confirmed dead, while the fate of the fifth remains unclear. The crew also included Syrian nationals.
Russia has not yet commented on the incident. The attack marks a serious escalation in the conflict's impact on civilian shipping in the Black Sea region.
