Kremlin Says Russia In Touch With India After Attack On Ship Carrying Indian Crew

‘Russia In Contact With India’: Kremlin Responds After Ship Strike Kills Four Indians

The Kremlin on Tuesday said Russia remains in contact with India after New Delhi lodged a strong diplomatic protest over a Russian strike on a merchant vessel in Ukraine’s maritime corridor that killed four Indian crew members.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow continues to engage with New Delhi even as tensions rose over the incident. “Russia remains in contact with our Indian partners,” Peskov told reporters.

He also defended Russia’s military operations, saying its forces would continue targeting vessels it believes are transporting military cargo for Ukraine. “Our armed forces are striking and will continue to strike those vessels that are involved in transporting ammunition, weapons and so on, for the purposes of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov said.

India Registers Strong Protest

Peskov’s remarks came days after India summoned Russian Charge d’Affaires Vladimir Ladanov to convey its “grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation” over the attack on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MV Golden Leo. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the strike on the commercial vessel resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals and raised serious concerns about the safety of civilian shipping.

“The Russian Charge d’Affaires was requested to convey India’s strong concerns to his authorities that the targeting of commercial shipping and the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable and must be avoided,” the MEA said.

Four Indians Dead, One Critical

The MV Golden Leo had 17 crew members on board, including five Indians, when it was struck. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the attack killed 10 crew members—four Indians and six Syrians. India confirmed the deaths of four Indian nationals and said another Indian sailor was critically injured and receiving treatment in hospital.

The MEA said the Indian Embassy in Ukraine was in constant touch with local authorities and was extending all possible assistance. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery,” the ministry said.

India Condemns Targeting Of Commercial Shipping

Without directly naming Russia, India condemned attacks on civilian merchant vessels and stressed that commercial shipping and innocent seafarers must not become casualties of armed conflict. “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 MEA said.

The strike on the MV Golden Leo came amid intensified fighting between Russia and Ukraine and marked the first reported deaths of Indian seafarers in the ongoing conflict.