 "Photo posted by British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris on X. The image shows smoke billowing from the warehouse, which allegedly belonged to the Indian firm.")
The Russian embassy in India has strongly refuted claims made by Ukraine that Russian forces deliberately hit the warehouse of an Indian pharma firm in Kyiv, stating Ukraine’s own air defence missiles may have set the facility on fire.
On April 12, Kyiv mocked the ‘special friendship’ between India and Russia and accused Russian forces of “deliberately” targeting the warehouse of Kusum, an Indian pharma company.
“While claiming ‘special friendship’ with India, Moscow deliberately targets Indian businesses — destroying medicines meant for children and the elderly,” the Ukrainian embassy in India wrote on X.
On Thursday (April 17), the Russian embassy rubbished the claim, blaming the loss to the Indian firm on Ukraine’s missile defence system.
“The most likely explanation of the incident is that one of Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse setting it on fire,” the embassy claimed.
The embassy cited “similar incidents” from the past to back its argument, stating, “Similar cases have occurred previously whereby Ukrainian air defence interceptors failing to hit their targets fell in urban areas due to ineptly operated electronic warfare systems.”
“It should also be noted that it has become customary for the Ukrainian military to deploy air defence systems, rocket launchers, artillery pieces and other military equipment in urban areas using civilians as a human shield,” the Russian embassy in India wrote on X.
Impact Shorts
View AllEarlier on Wednesday (April 16), Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk alleged that the Russian ‘drone strike’ on the warehouse led to losses worth $25 million to the Indian firm.
“If the drone strike was later in the day, the building would have had more people, and the destruction could have been greater,” Polishchuk said. “Russia is launching attacks with Shahed drones at night because they are intercepted in the day, and it is targeting critical infrastructure and locations, including pharmaceutical units.”
“The attack came on the day that marked the anniversary of India-Russia diplomatic ties,” he added.
Polishchuk stated that Kusum Group appeared to be targeted due to its support for Ukraine’s emergency services. As part of its humanitarian efforts last year, the company supplied 45 sets of body armour and helmets to rescue services and volunteer groups in Sumy and Kyiv. It also donated bulletproof vests and ballistic helmets to the State Emergency Service, reflecting its active role in supporting Ukraine during the crisis.