New Delhi:
Russia denied the allegations by Ukraine that a Russian missile attacked the warehouse of an Indian pharma firm in Kiev last week.
The Russian Embassy in India said in a statement that the possibility of Ukrainian air defense missiles fell on the warehouse of Kusum Healthcare, causing the fire.
On 12 April, Kiev accused a Russian missile at the Indian firm’s warehouse, and accused Russia of “deliberately” a “Indian businesses” target.
Kusum, owned by Rajiv Gupta, is one of the largest pharma firms in Ukraine. Sources told NDTV that the company’s products are important in Ukraine as they ensure the availability of basic drugs. He said that a drone, not a missile, made a straight hit on the warehouse.
Today, in the statement, Moscow has allegedly used Ukraine’s air defense assets as a “human shield” in civilian areas.
Russia said, “It should also be noted that it has become customary for Ukrainian Army to deploy air defense systems, rocket launchers, artillery pieces and other military equipment in urban areas using citizens as a human shield.”
“In response to the allegations spread by the Ukraine embassy in India, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi said that the Russian armed forces did not plan to attack on 12 April 2025, in the eastern part of the Pharmacy Warehouse of Kusum Healthcare.
“That day, Russian strategic aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles and missile forces killed an aviation plant in the Ukrainian military industrial complex, a military aircraft and the repair of the armored vehicle and the infrastructure of UAV assembly workshops in a completely different place.
“The most likely interpretation of this incident is that Ukrainian air defense missiles fell on the warehouse of Kusum Healthcare, setting it on fire.
It said that the Russian armed forces have never targeted civil facilities during special military operations.