Indian-owned pharma warehouse hit in Sumy, employee killed in Russian strike

A Russian strike on an Indian-owned pharmaceutical warehouse in Sumy killed a 52-year-old employee and injured three others. The attack has drawn condolences from Volodymyr Zelenskyy and renewed focus on India's balancing outreach to Kyiv and Moscow.

In Short

• Zelenskyy offered condolences after the Sumy drone strike killed one worker
• Ukraine said the damaged pharmaceutical facility was Indian-owned and civilian
• Local media reported three others were injured in the warehouse attack

A 52-year-old employee of an Indian-owned pharmaceutical warehouse was killed in a Russian strike in Ukraine's Sumy, according to local media. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday expressed condolences to the man's family. The Kyiv Independent said three other people were injured in the attack.

The Ukrainian Embassy in India said the pharmaceutical facility was Indian-owned and said it was not a military target. The development came as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that India had moved beyond advocacy and stepped up efforts in recent months for a resolution of the Ukraine conflict through talks with both Kyiv and Moscow.

Zelenskyy said, "This morning, the Russians once again struck the Pivnichnyi Bridge in Kyiv with a drone. They attacked an ordinary pharmaceutical warehouse in Sumy with drones. Tragically, one person was killed. My condolences to the family and loved ones."

The Ukrainian Embassy in India identified the pharmaceutical factory as Indian-owned. In a post on X, it said, "The aggressor does not care that this is not a military target. It does not care that this is a pharmaceutical factory producing critically needed medicines." It further said, "The barbarians do not care that the factory belongs to Indian owners. The hypocrites continue talking about the 'historic friendship' between India and Muscovy. In reality, death and destruction are the true face of Russian fascism, hidden behind the mask." The embassy added, "Our deepest condolences go to the family of the person who was killed. We also express our sincere sympathy to the Indian owners over the destruction of their factory."

The Kyiv Independent identified the person killed as a 52-year-old man. It said three others were injured in the strike. On Sunday, Jaishankar said at an event that India had intensified its efforts in recent months for a resolution of the conflict by engaging with both Kyiv and Moscow. His remarks came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "good ideas" to find a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.

The strike in Sumy killed a 52-year-old employee at an Indian-owned pharmaceutical warehouse and injured three others, according to local media, prompting condolences from Zelenskyy and a sharp response from the Ukrainian Embassy in India, amid India's continued engagement with both Ukraine and Russia.

With PTI Inputs

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