Russian envoy summoned over killing of four Indians

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday summoned Russian Charge d'Affaires Vladimir Ladanov over the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo, which killed four Indian nationals, and conveyed India's "grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation" of the incident.

"Today, the Russian Charge 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, emphasising that such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce," the MEA stated.

The MEA said the Russian diplomat was requested to convey India's strong concerns to the authorities in Moscow, stressing that the targeting of commercial shipping and the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable and must be avoided.


Four Indian nationals were killed in an attack on the MV Golden Leo while the vessel was departing the port of Odesa in Ukraine on Sunday evening. One other Indian crew member was reported to be in a critical condition.

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According to the MEA, there were 17 crew members on board the vessel at the time of the incident, including five Indian nationals.

Golden Leo is a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship carrying corn and manned by a crew from India and Syria.

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Since June Indian seafarers employed by various global shipping lines have been victims of attacks during the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Since last month, the MEA has summoned the US Charge d'Affaires and the Iranian Deputy Ambassador to convey India's grave concern over attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz that claimed the lives of Indian nationals.