Four Indian sailors were killed in Russia’s July 19 strike on the cargo ship Golden Leo (IMO: 9181833) near the port of Odesa, India’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on July 21. The ministry summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires, Vladimir Ladanov, over the attack.
Local media were the first to report the summons, with an official statement appearing on the ministry’s official website later.
“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 2026, which resulted in the tragic loss of four Indian lives,” the statement read.
The ministry said such attacks “undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce.” Russia’s chargé d’affaires was asked to convey to Moscow that strikes on civilian vessels are “unacceptable and must be avoided.”
A day earlier, India’s Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement, which condemned strikes on civilian vessels without mentioning Moscow specifically. Russian authorities did not respond to that statement.
