India has summoned the Russian envoy over the killing of four Indian sailors near Odessa, Ukraine

This photo taken and released by the Ukrainian Navy on July 19, 2026 shows the destroyed civilian cargo ship Golden Leo in the Black Sea after an alleged Russian missile attack. | Photo credit: AFP

India on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires (CDA) and lodged a strong protest against the killing of four Indian sailors aboard a Guinea Bissau-flagged merchant ship off the coast of Ukraine.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) that Russian CDA Vladimir Ladanov had been summoned and the ministry conveyed India’s “serious concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo on July 19, 2026, which resulted in the tragic loss of four Indian lives.”

The ministry said such attacks undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime trade.

“The Russian chargé d’affaires has been asked to convey to his authorities India’s strong concerns that the targeting of commercial shipping and the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives is unacceptable and must be avoided,” the ministry said.

Russia attacked a civilian vessel sailing through the Ukrainian maritime corridor on Sunday (July 19, 2026) with citizens of Syria and India on board. A ship flying the Guinea-Bissau flag was hit by Russian cruise missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said. The vessel – MV Golden Leo – had 17 crew members, including five Indian nationals, according to the MEA.

Published – 21 Jul 2026 11:15 IST