India summoned the Russian Chargé d'Affaires on July 21, 2026, to protest the deaths of four Indian seafarers in an attack on the vessel MV Golden Leo.
The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Russian Chargé d’Affaires Vladimir Ladanov and conveyed India’s grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the attack.
The attack occurred on July 19, 2026, when the Guinea-Bissau-flagged merchant vessel MV Golden Leo was hit by Russian cruise missiles while navigating Ukraine's maritime corridor. The vessel had 17 crew members, including five Indian nationals and citizens of Syria.
The Ministry stated that such attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce. It requested that Ladanov convey to his authorities that targeting commercial shipping and the loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable and must be avoided.
