The Indian government on Tuesday summoned the Russian charge d'affaires (CDA) in New Delhi, Vladimir Ladanov, and lodged a strong protest over the killing of four Indian nationals in an attack on a merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine, sources said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it conveyed to the Russian CDA India's "grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation" of the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo on Sunday.
The MEA told Vladimir Ladanov, the CDA, 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," it said in a statement.
The diplomatic move follows the July 19 attack on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel MV Golden Leo, which was departing Ukraine's port of Odesa carrying grain.
The vessel had 17 crew members on board, including five Indians.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia attacked the civilian vessel navigating Ukraine's maritime corridor on Sunday and its crew included citizens of Syria and India.
India condemned the attack and reiterated that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members is "deplorable and should be avoided".
"On the evening of July 19, the vessel MV Golden Leo was attacked while departing the port of Odesa. At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals," the MEA said on Monday night.
"As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalised in a critical condition," it had said.
The MEA said the Indian mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery," it said in a statement.
Without directly naming Russia, the MEA had said, "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."
(With inputs from PTI)
