Russia blames Ukrainian air defence missiles for destruction of India pharma warehouse in Kyiv

In this picture shared by the Ukraine’s Embassy in India on X, a pharmaceutical warehouse is seen after a Russian attack. Photo: X/@UkrembInd

Days after a major warehouse of the Indian pharmaceutical company Kusum Healthcare was destroyed in a missile attack in Ukraine’s capital, the Embassy of Russia in New Delhi has blamed the incident on “Ukrainian air defence missiles”.

In a statement issued on Thursday (April 17, 2025), the embassy also claimed that the Ukrainian armed forces are using civilian infrastructure to hide military equipment like artillery pieces and rocket launchers.

Also Read | Russia ‘deliberately’ targeted Indian pharma company’s warehouse in Kyiv: Ukrainian Embassy

“The most likely explanation of the incident is that one of Ukrainian air defence missiles fell on Kusum Healthcare’s warehouse, setting it on fire. Similar cases have happened previously whereby Ukrainian air defence interceptors, failing to hit their targets, fell in urban areas due to ineptly operated electronic warfare systems,” the Embassy of Russia said.

Trading blame

The Hindu had reported that Kusum Healthcare lost its major warehouse in Kyiv in the incident that took place on April 12. The Ukrainian Embassy here had blamed Russian armed forces for the incident in a public statement.

Also Read | Russian missile strikes warehouse of Indian pharma firm in Ukraine, says Kyiv’s mission in Delhi

“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 Kyiv,” said the Russian embassy statement.