Killing of 4 Indian seafarers: India summons Russian envoy

This photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Navy on July 19, 2026 shows the destroyed civilian cargo ship Golden Leo on the Black Sea, following an alleged Russian missile strike. | Photo Credit: AFP India on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) summoned the Russian charge d'affaires (CDA) and lodged a strong protest over the killing of four Indian seafarers aboard a Guinea Bissau-flagged merchant vesse l off the coast of Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a press release on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), said that the Russian CDA Vladimir Ladanov was summoned and the Ministry conveyed to him “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 Ministry said 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 Ministry said. Russia attacked the civilian vessel navigating Ukraine's maritime corridor on Sunday (July 19, 2026) and its crew included citizens of Syria and India. The Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship 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 - July 21, 2026 11:15 am IST