MEA Summons Russian Official: 4 Indians Killed in Missile Attack on MV Golden Leo

The Government of India has expressed deep concern and strong resentment over the tragic death of four Indian nationals in an attack on a commercial cargo ship near the Odessa port in Ukraine, while the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has termed the incident as completely unacceptable and has taken a significant diplomatic step by summoning the Russian Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi to register a formal and stern protest.

Details of the Attack on MV Golden Leo

According to the information shared by the Ministry of External Affairs, the incident occurred on the evening of July 19. The commercial vessel, named MV Golden Leo, was in the process of departing from the Odessa port when it was targeted. At the time of the attack, there were a total of 17 crew members on board the ship. Among these 17 members, five were Indian nationals. The attack resulted in the unfortunate death of four of these Indian citizens, while one other Indian national sustained serious injuries and is currently reported to be in a critical condition.

Diplomatic Action and MEA Stance

In response to this grave incident, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Vladimir Ladanov, the Russian Charge d'Affaires, on Tuesday, while during the meeting, the Ministry conveyed India's strong condemnation of the attack. The MEA emphasized that the targeting of commercial vessels and putting the lives of innocent civilian crew members at risk is highly reprehensible and entirely unacceptable. India has demanded full accountability for the deaths of its citizens and has urged that such incidents must be avoided to ensure the safety of maritime routes.

Impact on International Maritime Trade

The Ministry of External Affairs further stated that such attacks Notably undermine the security, stability, and safe movement of international maritime trade, while india made it clear that commercial shipping shouldn't be targeted and that there should be no interference or obstacles created in the movement of ships and trade through maritime routes. The safety of civilian sailors remains a priority, and India has called for the protection of those involved in global commerce.

Ukrainian Report on the Missile Strike

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had previously provided information regarding the incident, stating that Russia attacked a civilian ship passing through Ukraine's maritime route on Sunday. He confirmed that the crew included citizens from Syria and India. This incident marks the first instance of Indian sailors losing their lives in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, while the Ukrainian Air Force reported that the ship, which was flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, was struck by Russian cruise missiles. Specifically, the Ukrainian Air Force stated that the Russian forces fired three Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles during the operation. This escalation comes at a time when the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify.

Assistance to Affected Families

The Ministry of External Affairs has assured that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is closely monitoring the entire situation and is working to provide all possible assistance to those affected, while the Ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and conveyed its hopes for the speedy recovery of the injured Indian citizen. The government remains committed to ensuring the safety of its nationals working in conflict zones across the globe.