Tit-for-tat attacks on shipping between Ukraine and Russia have ratcheted of late in the Black Sea. At least half a dozen commercial vessels have been attacked in these waters over the past two weeks alone. The situation is almost becoming akin to a Hormuz crisis in its own right, as oil transit slows.
Tragically, there's a mounting death toll among crew members caught in the crossfire. One of the biggest single casualty events - if not the biggest - was the result of a Russian attack on the Golden Leo, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship, on Sunday.
Ukrainian Navy/TelegramThree cruise missiles reportedly hit the vessel, killing ten people, including four Indian citizens. The other dead were from Syria, and one Ukrainian, and the incident has outraged these countries, especailly India.
Throughout the Ukraine war India and Russia have remained key energy trading partners, but this Black Sea incident has introduced fresh tensions.
India’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that it summoned a senior Russian diplomat to fiercely protest the attack and deaths of Indian nationals.
"Such attacks undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce," India’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement upon summoning Russian chargé d’affaires Vladimir Ladanov.
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