Kremlin responds after four Indians killed in Black Sea missile strike
The Kremlin confirmed contact with India after a missile strike on a Black Sea cargo ship killed four Indians. The Golden Leo was hit by Russian missiles, resulting in 10 deaths. India has summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires regarding the incident.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was in touch with its partners in India after a missile strike killed four Indians on a Black Sea cargo ship as it was leaving the port of Odesa in Ukraine.
Ukraine said Russia fired three cruise missiles at the Golden Leo, a cargo ship flying the Guinea-Bissau flag, on Sunday. The ship had crew members from India and Syria. The attack killed 10 people, including four Indians.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov implied -- without providing evidence -- that the vessel had been carrying arms for Ukraine.
"We are continuing our contacts with our Indian partners, explaining our position," he told reporters on Tuesday.
“Our armed forces are striking and will continue to strike those vessels involved in transporting weapons and ammunition.”
India summons Russia envoy
Earlier, the Indian foreign ministry said it had summoned Vladimir Ladanov, the Russian charge d'affaires, to convey "grave concerns" and "unequivocal condemnation" of the attack on Sunday.
India condemned the attack and reiterated that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members is "deplorable and should be avoided".
"On the evening of July 19, the vessel MV Golden Leo was attacked while departing the port of Odesa. At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals," the MEA said on Monday night.
"As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalised in a critical condition," it had said.
The MEA said the Indian mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery," it said in a statement.
Without directly naming Russia, the MEA had said: “India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided.”
India is one of the largest contributors of sailors to merchant shipping worldwide, with more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025, according to the country's shipping ministry.
Russia and India consider each other "time-tested" friends with ties dating back to the Soviet era, but their relationship has come under significant pressure since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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