The Russian Embassy in India has denied Ukraine’s allegations that a Russian missile struck the warehouse of Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum Healthcare in Kyiv.
In response to the accusations made by the Ukrainian Embassy, the Russian side asserted that its Armed Forces “did not attack or plan to attack Kusum Healthcare’s pharmacy warehouse in the eastern part of Kiev on April 12, 2025.”
Ukraine’s Claim of Russian missiles hitting Indian Pharma firm
On Saturday, the Ukrainian Embassy in India claimed that a Russian missile had hit Kusum’s warehouse, a facility belonging to a prominent Indian pharma firm. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy alleged, “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.”
Russian Embassy dismisses Ukrainian allegation
The Russian Embassy dismissed the accusation days later, issuing a statement on Thursday. It clarified that on April 12, Russian tactical aviation, strike drones, and missile forces had targeted an aviation plant of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, a military airfield’s infrastructure, and workshops for armored vehicle repairs and UAV assembly—at an entirely different location.
According to the Russian statement, “The most probable explanation for the incident is that a Ukrainian air defense missile misfired and landed on Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse, causing the fire.” The embassy added that such incidents have occurred in the past, where Ukrainian interceptor missiles, due to mishandling or technical faults in their electronic warfare systems, fell in civilian areas.
❗️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. pic.twitter.com/W9HifHREnz
— Russia in India (@RusEmbIndia) April 17, 2025
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UK supports Ukraine’s claim
Separately, UK’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, acknowledged in a social media post that Russian strikes had destroyed a major pharmaceutical warehouse in Kyiv. He didn’t mention Kusum by name and attributed the damage to drone strikes rather than missile fire.
Rejecting the claim that Russia intentionally targeted civilian infrastructure, the Russian Embassy stated, “The Russian Armed Forces have never targeted civilian facilities during the Special Military Operation.” It further alleged that Ukraine frequently positions air defense systems, rocket launchers, and other military hardware within urban areas, effectively using civilians as human shields.
