India presses Russia over seafarer deaths after missile strike on merchant vessel
India has pressed Russia over the deaths of four Indian seafarers after a missile strike on a merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine. The diplomatic response came after New Delhi summoned the Russian charge d'affaires and later raised the issue directly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila. India said the attack on commercial shipping and the loss of civilian lives were unacceptable.
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Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said he met Lavrov on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in the Philippines. He said he reiterated India's strong concern about the safety of Indian seafarers in the region and discussed a wider set of bilateral issues, including trade, investment, energy, connectivity, science and technology, and mobility. India also said it exchanged views with Russia on the Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Gulf.
The immediate trigger was a strike on Sunday on the Golden Leo, a Turkish-owned merchant vessel sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau as it was leaving Ukraine's southern port of Odesa. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched three Kh-59 or Kh-69 cruise missiles, and one hit the starboard side of the vessel. The strike killed 10 people in total, including four Indians, and one other Indian sailor was reported to be in critical condition in hospital.
The episode has added a sensitive maritime and diplomatic dimension to India's approach to the war in Ukraine. India has sought to maintain working ties with Moscow while also voicing concern over civilian harm and the safety of its nationals. The naming and summoning of the Russian diplomat is notable because India has generally tried to avoid public confrontation with Russia during the conflict.
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The incident also highlights the risks faced by seafarers on commercial routes linked to the Black Sea. The row said this was the first time Indian sailors had died in the Russia-Ukraine war, even though Indian seafarers have also died in other conflicts in West Asia in recent months. It also underlines the vulnerability of international maritime commerce when civilian shipping is caught in military strikes.
What remains unclear is the full identity of all the dead and the condition of the injured Indian sailor. India has not yet released the names of the deceased, although two sailors were identified by their families. The next developments to watch are any further Russian response, updates on the injured crew member, and whether India seeks additional assurances on maritime safety for its nationals.
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