New Delhi— Russia has denied allegations made by Ukraine that its armed forces deliberately targeted a warehouse belonging to Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum Healthcare during a drone strike in Kyiv on April 12. The Russian Embassy in New Delhi stated on Thursday that Moscow does not target civilian infrastructure as part of its ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
Responding to claims made by the Ukrainian Embassy in India, the Russian mission issued a statement firmly rejecting any involvement in the reported attack on Kusum Healthcare’s facility in eastern Kyiv.
“The Russian Armed Forces did not attack or plan to attack Kusum Healthcare’s pharmacy warehouse on April 12, 2025,” the statement read. “On that day, Russian tactical aviation, strike UAVs, and missile forces targeted a Ukrainian aviation plant, a military airfield, and facilities involved in armored vehicle repair and UAV assembly—none of which were near the site of the warehouse.”
Ukrainian Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk had earlier alleged that a Russian drone deliberately struck the Kusum Group warehouse, causing an estimated $25 million in damages. The incident has raised concerns in India, where Kusum Healthcare, a New Delhi-headquartered company, is seen as a symbol of growing India-Ukraine commercial ties.
In response, the Russian Embassy suggested an alternative explanation for the explosion, claiming that a misfired Ukrainian air defense missile may have struck the warehouse.
“This is the most likely cause of the fire,” the statement said. “Similar incidents have occurred previously, where Ukrainian air defense missiles, failing to intercept their intended targets, crashed into urban areas due to mismanaged electronic warfare systems.”
The Embassy further emphasized that the Russian military has “never targeted civilian facilities” during what Moscow refers to as its “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine. It also accused Ukrainian forces of routinely placing air defense systems, rocket launchers, and artillery in populated areas, thereby endangering civilians and using them as “human shields.”
The conflicting accounts come amid continued tensions and mutual accusations between the warring nations, as well as growing scrutiny from the international community over the protection of civilian infrastructure and non-combatants in the conflict zone. (Source: IANS)
