India summons Russian envoy over killing of four Indians in merchant ship attack in Ukraine

PTC News Desk: India on Tuesday summoned Russian envoy to India and lodged strong protest with Moscow over the killing of four Indians on board a merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine.

New Delhi termed the attack "deplorable" and demanded accountability for the deaths of its nationals, sources said.

India has strongly protested to Russia after four Indian nationals were killed in an attack on a cargo ship near the Ukrainian coast.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Russian Charge d'Affaires Vladimir Ladanov in New Delhi to express India's strong concern over the incident and seek an explanation. The four Indians were working as crew members on the merchant vessel. Ukrainian authorities have blamed Russia for the attack, which took place amid the ongoing war between the two countries.

Sources said India has raised the matter firmly with Russia and is closely monitoring the situation. The diplomatic protest came a day after the MEA confirmed that four Indian crew members were killed and another was critically injured when the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship MV Golden Leo was attacked while leaving Ukraine's Odesa port on the evening of July 19.

The grain-carrying vessel had 17 crew members on board, including five Indians.

"As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalised in a critical condition," the MEA said in a statement on Monday.

Condemning the attack, India said targeting commercial shipping and innocent civilian crew members was unacceptable.

"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," the ministry said.

The MEA said the Indian mission in Ukraine was closely monitoring the situation and making every effort to assist those affected.