India condemns Russian attack that killed 4 Indian seafarers
New Delhi/Mumbai, July 21 -- India on Monday condemned an alleged Russian attack on a Guinea Bissau-flagged merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine that killed 10 people, including four Indian seafarers, and reiterated its call for an end to the targeting of commercial shipping during conflicts.
The MV Golden Leo, a cargo ship, was attacked on Sunday evening while it was departing the port of Odesa. At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals. This is the first instance in which Indian seafarers have been killed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict
The Golden Leo was hit by Russian missiles that caused a fire, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Without directly naming Russia, the external affairs ministry in a statement said: "India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided."
The Indian seafarers whose bodies were found have been identified as Akhil Joyan (chief officer) and Abhishek Nishad (operation specialist), said a representative of ship management company that had engaged the sailors. Pratigya Tripathi of Gururkripa Marine said that the bodies of Gurpreet Singh Bhatt (Able Seaman 3) and Jagan Singh (operation specialist) have been found as well, but they are charred beyond recognition.
Tripathi said a fifth Indian, third officer Sebestin Blesson, was critical and hospitalised.
The Indian embassy in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and making every effort to extend assistance to those affected.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery," the MEA statement said....
इस लेख के रीप्रिंट को खरीदने या इस प्रकाशन का पूरा फ़ीड प्राप्त करने के लिए, कृपया
हमे संपर्क करें.