India Condemns Attack on Commercial Ship Near Ukraine, Four Sailors Killed

India's Strong Response to Maritime Attack

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi has expressed profound sorrow and strong opposition regarding the attack on a commercial vessel near the coast of Ukraine, which resulted in the deaths of four Indian sailors. On Tuesday, the Indian government summoned the charge d'affaires of the Russian embassy to address the incident. According to sources, the government firmly communicated to the Russian diplomat that such attacks on cargo ships, which have led to the loss of innocent Indian lives, are unacceptable.

Details of the incident reveal that the MV Golden Leo, flagged under Guinea-Bissau, was attacked on the evening of July 19 while departing from the port of Odessa. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian cruise missiles targeted this civilian ship. This marks the first instance of Indian sailors losing their lives in an attack since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In this tragic event, four Indians lost their lives, while another Indian sailor sustained serious injuries and is currently hospitalized. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed the attack, stating that Russia targeted a civilian vessel passing through Ukraine's maritime corridor, which included crew members from India and Syria.

The Indian government has condemned the attack, reiterating that targeting commercial vessels and endangering the lives of innocent crew members is reprehensible and must be avoided. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that any obstruction to the freedom of international shipping and trade is unacceptable.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to provide assistance to those affected. The Ministry of External Affairs has extended its heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of the deceased Indian citizens and wishes for the swift recovery of the injured sailor.