19 March 2026
New Delhi
Taking into account publicly available information in the case concerning the detention of six citizens of Ukraine, including media reports indicating that the initiation of this proceeding was prompted by information provided by the Russian side, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India expresses serious concern regarding the presence of circumstances that point to a possible orchestrated and politically motivated nature of this case, as evidenced, in particular, by the facts known at this stage.
Ukraine firmly rejects any insinuations regarding the possible involvement of the Ukrainian State in supporting terrorist activities. Ukraine is a state that faces the consequences of Russian terror on a daily basis and, for this very reason, takes a principled and uncompromising stance in combating terrorism in all its forms.
Ukraine and India have already confirmed at the highest level their shared principled position on combating terrorism. In the Joint Statement following the visit of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, to Ukraine on 23 August 2024, the leaders of the two states strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, emphasized that there can be no justification for terrorism, and underlined the need for international cooperation in combating it in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Proceeding from this shared position, Ukraine maintains that any allegation related to terrorism must be considered exclusively on the basis of verified facts, transparent procedures, and full intergovernmental cooperation.
In this regard, Ukraine emphasizes the necessity of ensuring objectivity, transparency, and impartiality in the investigation of this case.
In this context, we express our principled readiness for active cooperation between the competent authorities of Ukraine and their Indian counterparts, in particular on the basis of the existing bilateral Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, which provides for the broadest possible measures of mutual legal assistance and interaction through the central authorities of the parties.
We also emphasize that Ukraine has no interest in any activity that could pose a threat to the security of India. On the contrary, Ukraine consistently advocates for strengthening security, trust, and cooperation with India as an influential and friendly state. Instead, it is Russia, as an aggressor state, that seeks under every circumstance to drive a wedge between friendly countries – Ukraine and India.
Any attempts to use this case to discredit Ukraine or to introduce distrust into Ukraine–India relations appear to be a deliberate effort to harm the bilateral partnership, which is steadily developing and has significant potential for further deepening in line with the agreements of the leaders of the two states.
Ukraine expects that, taking into account the traditionally friendly and trusting nature of relations between Ukraine and India, the competent authorities of India will ensure the legality, transparency, and openness of the process, as well as the proper observance of the rights of the detained Ukrainian citizens, in accordance with the norms and principles of international law.