India summons Russian envoy after attack on cargo vessel kills four Indian crew members

New Delhi: India on Tuesday summoned the Russian Charge d'Affaires following the attack on a commercial cargo vessel that had departed Ukraine's Odesa port, an incident in which four Indian nationals were killed and another was critically injured.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the vessel MV Golden Leo came under attack on the evening of July 19 while leaving the port of Odesa. The ship had 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals.

Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, the MEA said four Indian crew members were killed in the attack, while the fifth remains hospitalised in critical condition.

India's mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is providing all possible assistance to those affected, the ministry said.

"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 MEA said in a statement.

The ministry also strongly condemned the attack, stating that targeting commercial shipping and putting civilian crew members at risk was unacceptable.

"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 statement added.

According to media reports from Ukraine, the Turkish-owned cargo vessel Golden Leo was struck by a Russian missile, with 10 people reportedly killed in the attack.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian forces launched three Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles, one of which hit the starboard side of the Guinea-Bissau-flagged merchant vessel, triggering a fire. Eight crew members were rescued and taken to a hospital in Odesa.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that its armed forces had continued strikes on Ukrainian ports and vessels allegedly operating in support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The ministry said anti-ship Oniks missiles, air-launched cruise missiles and loitering munitions targeted port infrastructure, including what it described as "two bulk carriers carrying military cargo at anchorage off the Port of Odesa."

The incident comes amid the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides offering differing accounts of military operations in the Black Sea region.

With inputs from IANS