India's Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Russia's Chargé d'Affaires in New Delhi, Vladimir Ladanov, following the deaths of four Indian sailors in a Russian attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo off the coast of Ukraine.
According to a statement from the Indian Foreign Ministry, Ladanov was summoned on July 21.
"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," the statement said.
The ministry stressed that "such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce."
"The Russian Chargé 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 statement added.
On July 19, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the civilian cargo vessel Golden Leo, sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau. Initial reports said five crew members were killed, eight were rescued, and five others remained missing.
On July 20, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that four Indian nationals had been killed in the attack and that another Indian citizen remained in critical condition in hospital.
