Expressing Deep Concern : India Reacts Strongly To Killing of 4 Indians Off Ukraine Coast Due To Russian Attack ; MEA Issues Statement

Picture : ANI/X

Days after a Russian attack on a merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine killed 10 people including four Indians, India  said the ship contained grain, virtually rejecting Moscow’s claim that it carried military hardware.

After New Delhi summoned Russian charge Charge d’affaires  following the killing of the Indians in the strike on the MV Golden Leo vessel, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had said Russia will continue to attack ships carrying arms for Ukraine.

“As per information made available to us from the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, India, MV Golden Leo, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged commercial vessel involved in the tragic incident in the Odesa port, had loaded grain as cargo prior to its departure on July 19,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a regular media briefing.

He was responding to a question on the Russian claim.

“We once again reiterate that commercial shipping and seafarers must not be targeted under any circumstances,” he added.

Jaiswal said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated this position by New Delhi to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in their meeting in Manila on Wednesday.

India had summoned Russian Charge d’affaires Vladimir Ladanov and conveyed to him its ‘grave concerns’ and ‘unequivocal condemnation’ of the Russian attack on the merchant vessel.

It was the first instance of death of Indian seafarers in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.