India calls in Russian envoy over deadly attack on Black Sea tanker

India has summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires, Vladimir Ladanov, following the deaths of four Indian sailors in a strike on a cargo vessel in the Black Sea, according to Indian media reports including Hindustan Times and India Today, citing sources.

The vessel, identified as the MV Golden Leo, was a dry cargo ship sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau. According to Indian authorities, it had departed from a Ukrainian port in Odesa. The ship’s crew consisted of nationals from India and Syria.

The deaths of the Indian sailors were reported on July 20.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack on the vessel, though it did not mention Russia in its official statement. “India condemns such attacks and reiterates that attacks on commercial vessels and endangering the lives of civilians, as well as any obstruction to the freedom of navigation and trade, are reprehensible and must cease,” the ministry said.

The Ukrainian side has alleged that the vessel was struck by missiles fired by Russian armed forces. Russian authorities have not yet commented on the claims or on the reported démarche by India’s foreign ministry.

By Tamilla Hasanova