India strongly protests Russian strike killing four Indian sailors

New Delhi has lodged a strong diplomatic protest, summoning the Russian Charge d’Affaires after a deadly missile strike on a commercial ship near Ukraine’s Odesa port killed four Indian seafarers. Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that another Indian crew member remains in critical condition following the evening attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo. Carrying a multinational crew of 17, the Turkish-owned vessel faced heavy bombardment while departing the Black Sea port. Ukrainian military sources report that Russian forces launched three cruise missiles, striking the starboard side of the Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship and igniting a deadly fire. Ten people died in total during the assault. With thousands of youth from coastal states like Odisha and Kerala serving in the global merchant navy, this unprecedented loss highlights the growing vulnerability of civilian mariners navigating international conflict zones. The incident marks the first time Indian sailors have died since the Russia-Ukraine hostilities began.

Diplomatic Fallout and Condemnation

Government authorities quickly condemned the strike, emphasizing that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crews is entirely unacceptable. Indian diplomats in Ukraine are actively monitoring the emergency, ensuring that the lone surviving Indian sailor receives immediate medical care. Furthermore, officials are coordinating logistical efforts to repatriate the remains of the deceased back to their grieving families in India.

Conflicting Claims over Targets

Russian defense officials maintain that their military operations strictly target port infrastructure and vessels supporting Ukrainian armed forces. Moscow recently stated that its anti-ship missiles and loitering munitions struck two bulk carriers allegedly carrying military cargo near Odesa. However, international observers and maritime authorities continue to classify the MV Golden Leo as a civilian cargo operation. This conflicting narrative raises severe global concerns over international maritime security and the safety of neutral seafarers.