India summons Russian diplomat over killing of 4 Indian seafarers in the Black Sea

India summoned the Russian charge d'affaires (CDA) on Tuesday, July 21 and lodged a protest over the killing of four Indians aboard the ill-fated Ukrainian merchant vessel struck by three Russian missiles in the Black Sea. The attack on Sunday, July 19 killed 10 seafarers in total, four of whom were Indian nationals. A fifth Indian national injured in the attack is reported to be in a critical condition.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release stated that the Russian CDA Vladimir Ladanov was summoned and the MEA 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,” reported Reuters.

Russian officials on Tuesday, July 21 said they were in touch with their Indian counterparts.

 The ship named the MV Golden Leo, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship was leaving the port of Odessa in Ukraine when the three Russian cruise missiles struck. The ship had a crew of 17 on board and was manned by nationals from both India and Syria.

The MEA, on Monday, July 20 through a press release condemned the attack on merchant vessels and reiterated India's opposition to attacks on merchant vessels.The MEA said such incidents violate the freedom of navigation. The Acting Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha blamed the attack on Russia and reported that five of the crew members of the ship were missing, the agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday, July 21, told reporters that Russia will continue to hit vessels that were involved in supplying the Ukrainian military.