Russia refutes missile strike on Indian pharma warehouse, points finger at Ukraine

Russia has firmly denied responsibility for a missile strike that set ablaze the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical firm Kusum Healthcare in Kyiv, instead accusing Ukraine of causing the damage with a misfired air defense missile.

In a sharply worded statement issued on April 16, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi dismissed allegations from Ukrainian officials as “fake news,” asserting that Russian forces neither targeted nor intended to target the Indian-owned facility on April 12.

“In response to the accusations spread by the Embassy of Ukraine in India, the Russian Armed Forces did not attack or plan to attack Kusum Healthcare’s pharmacy warehouse in eastern Kyiv,” the statement read.

“On that day, Russian tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and missile forces struck Ukrainian military infrastructure at a completely different location.”

According to Moscow, the likely cause of the fire was a Ukrainian interceptor missile gone astray. “Similar incidents have occurred previously where Ukrainian air defense missiles, failing to reach their targets, landed in urban zones — the result of poorly operated electronic warfare systems,” the Embassy added.

The denial follows a strong statement last week from Ukraine’s Embassy in India, which accused Russia of deliberately targeting the warehouse despite professing “special friendship” with India.

“Today, a Russian missile struck the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum in Ukraine,” it said. “While claiming ‘special friendship’ with India, Moscow deliberately targets Indian businesses — destroying medicines meant for children and the elderly.”

Kusum Healthcare, a major Indian drugmaker, has operated in Ukraine for over a decade, supplying essential medicines across the country.

Ongoing violence amid fragile ceasefire

The latest diplomatic crossfire came as Russian forces launched a deadly assault on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on April 16, killing one civilian and injuring nine others, according to local officials. It marks yet another breach in the ceasefire hopes that have seen little traction.

Last month, both Russia and Ukraine signaled tentative agreement to a 30-day ceasefire, brokered by U.S. negotiators during talks in Saudi Arabia. However, confusion quickly followed, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce even before it took effect.

Tensions remain high as the war enters its third year, with ongoing disputes over attacks on energy infrastructure and little clarity on the path toward sustained peace.