Moscow: Russia has firmly rejected allegations that its forces were behind the missile strike that hit the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum Healthcare in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. In an official statement, the Russian Embassy in India described the claims made by Ukraine as “fake”, asserting that the Russian military had no involvement in the attack.
“In response to the accusations spread by the Embassy of Ukraine in India the Russian Embassy in New Delhi informs that the Russian Armed Forces did not attack or plan to attack on April 12, 2025, Kusum Healthcare’s pharmacy warehouse in the eastern part of Kiev,” the embassy said.
According to the Russian Embassy, their military operations on that day targeted entirely different facilities associated with Ukraine’s defense sector. These included an aviation plant, military airfield infrastructure, and repair and assembly sites for armored vehicles and UAVs. The statement further claimed the strike on Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse was most likely the result of a malfunctioning Ukrainian air defense missile.
“On that day, Russian tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles and missile forces hit an aviation plant of the Ukrainian military industrial complex, infrastructure of a military airfield and armoured vehicle repair and UAV assembly workshops at a completely different location. The most likely explanation of the incident is that one of the Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse setting it on fire,” the statement added.
The embassy also pointed to what it described as a recurring issue, alleging that Ukrainian interceptors frequently fail and fall into civilian areas due to mishandled electronic warfare systems.
“The Embassy outlines that during the Special Military Operation, the Russian Armed Forces have never targeted civilian facilities. 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,” it added.
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Deliberate Targeting
Contrary to Moscow’s claims, the Ukrainian Embassy in India last week stated that the missile strike was carried out by Russia and directly hit Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse. The embassy framed the attack as a deliberate act and questioned Russia’s professed “special friendship” with India.
Also Read | India Nears $700 Million BrahMos Missile Deal with Vietnam, Indonesia Could Be Next
“Today, a Russian missile struck the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum in Ukraine. While claiming ‘special friendship’ with India, Moscow deliberately targets Indian businesses — destroying medicines meant for children and the elderly,” the Ukrainian embassy in India said, calling Russia a “terrorist state”.
India’s Stance on the Conflict
India has maintained a diplomatic balance in its position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, consistently advocating for peace and dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking earlier this year during a podcast with American scientist Lex Fridman, reiterated his position.
Also Read | Trump Confident of ‘Great Deal’ with China Despite Mounting Tariffs and Trade Tensions
“I have a close relationship with Russia and Ukraine alike. I can sit with President Putin and say that this is not the time for war, and I can also tell President Zelenskyy in a friendly way that brother, regardless of how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield,” Modi said.
