'Claiming special friendship...' Ukraine slams Russia over missile strike on Indian pharma warehouse

New Delhi: A Russian missile struck a warehouse belonging to Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum in Ukraine on Saturday, according to the Ukrainian embassy in India.

In a post on social media platform X, the embassy accused Russia of deliberately attacking Indian-owned establishments, despite Moscow’s claims of having a “special friendship” with India.

“Today, a Russian missile struck the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum in Ukraine,” the embassy said in the post.

“While claiming ‘special friendship’ with India, Moscow deliberately targets Indian businesses – destroying medicines meant for children and the elderly,” it added.

No additional information about the strike was immediately available.

Russian drone attack destroys Kyiv facility

Earlier, the British ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, said that Russian attacks had destroyed a major pharmaceutical warehouse in Kyiv.

He stated that the strike was carried out using Russian drones.

“This morning Russian drones completely destroyed a major pharmaceuticals warehouse in Kyiv, incinerating stocks of medicines needed by the elderly and children. Russia’s campaign of terror against Ukrainian civilians continues,” Harris said on X.

According to its website, Kusum Healthcare operates in 29 countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Niger, Cameroon, Mali, and Tanzania.

Continued Russian strikes amid peace efforts

In recent days, Russia has launched several attacks across Ukraine, even as the United States continues to push for a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.Saturday marked one month since Russia rejected a proposed interim ceasefire from the United States.

Kyiv accuses Moscow of blocking peace

While Russia maintains its military campaign, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha claimed that Russia was the “only obstacle to peace”.

Referring to US-brokered talks in Jeddah, Sybiha said that Ukraine had agreed to the ceasefire proposal.

“Russia refused to agree, instead putting forward conditions and demands,” he said.

Between 11 March and 11 April, Russia launched nearly 70 missiles of various kinds, over 2,200 Shahed drones, and more than 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, he said.

“These were Russian responses to peace proposals,” Sybiha added.

PTI