New Delhi: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned senior Russian diplomat Vladimir Ladanov on July 21. Four Indian nationals were killed earlier in an attack on the vessel MV Golden Leo as it was departing the port of Odesa in Ukraine on Sunday evening, while one Indian crew member was critically injured. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the death toll in an official statement, noting that at the time of the incident, the vessel had 17 crew members on board, including five Indians.
“India conveyed its grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation over the strike on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo on 19 July 2026, which killed four Indian nationals,” the statement said.
“Such attacks undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce,” it added.
During the meeting,Ladanov was asked to convey India’s strong concerns to Moscow. He was also told that targeting commercial ships and the resulting loss of civilian lives was unacceptable, the statement said.
The MEA reiterated that such attacks put global maritime trade and civilian safety at risk, and called on all sides to ensure that commercial vessels are not caught in the crossfire of the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, Russia has responded to India’s protest. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow was in touch with New Delhi over the incident.
“We are explaining our position. Most importantly, our armed forces are striking, and will continue to strike, vessels involved in transporting ammunition, weapons, and so on for the purposes of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov said.
Who were the victims
The four Indian sailors who lost their lives have been identified as Akhil Joyan, Gurpreet Singh Bhatt, Jagan Singh and Abhishek Nishad. A fifth Indian crew member survived the attack and is currently being treated for critical injuries.
Akhil Joyan, 26, was from Vellarikkundu in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. He had worked on the Golden Leo, owned by Mumbai-based Ocean Grace Shipping Limited, for six years and was the only son of his parents. He had gotten engaged just three months before the attack, with his wedding planned for the coming months. Akhil was also known in his village as an accomplished tug-of-war player and had set a world record in the sport in 2023. His family is currently waiting for his body to be brought back home from Ukraine.
The vessel, flagged to Guinea-Bissau, had 17 crew members on board when it was hit by cruise missiles shortly after leaving Odesa port. In total, 10 people died in the attack, and eight others were rescued by Ukrainian forces.
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