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An Indian pharmaceutical company in Ukraine's Sumy was severely damaged in a Russian drone strike on Sunday, killing one employee and injuring several others. This was the second attack that hit the facility, dealing heavy damage to the firm.
The attack has dealt a major blow to Kusum's operations, with the company estimating the damage at more than USD 50 million (around Rs 400 crore). The firm has also expressed disappointment over what it described as the "deafening silence" from the Government of India, saying repeated pleas for intervention had received no response so far.
The company, which has been manufacturing medicines in Ukraine since 2009, condemned the attack in a statement, describing it as a direct assault on a private pharmaceutical facility involved in the production of life-saving medicines.
Kusum said the attack was particularly devastating as the company had already suffered a major loss in Ukraine when a Russian drone destroyed its warehouse in April 2025.
"This wicked strike has ruthlessly targeted a sanctuary dedicated entirely to manufacturing life-saving drugs for millions of innocent human lives. This outrage deals another catastrophic blow to an enterprise already reeling from the horrific events of April 14, 2025, when a Russian drone deliberately blew up the company’s Ukrainian warehouse," the company said in its statement.
Kusum Healthcare said one employee was confirmed dead at the site, while several others were injured in the latest attack.
It described the attack as a “direct weaponised assault” on a private pharmaceutical business supplying essential medicines to Ukraine and neighbouring CIS nations.
The Ukraine Embassy in India also condemned the attack, saying, "The aggressor does not care that this is not a military target".
"The barbarians do not care that the factory belongs to Indian owners. The hypocrites continue talking about the “historic friendship” between India and Muscovy. In reality, death and destruction are the true face of Russian fascism, hidden behind the mask," the Embassy wrote on X.
The aggressor does not care that this is not a military target. It does not care that this is a pharmaceutical factory producing critically needed medicines. The barbarians do not care that the factory belongs to Indian owners. The hypocrites continue talking about the “historic friendship” between India and Muscovy. In reality, death and destruction are the true face of Russian fascism, hidden behind the mask. Our deepest condolences go to the family of the person who was killed. We also express our sincere sympathy to the Indian owners over the destruction of their factory. Punishment will be inevitable. And for now, what is needed are tough sanctions and the isolation of these criminals, not pushpa mala.— Ukraine in India (@UkrembInd) October 4, 2026
Kusum said the latest strike is expected to cause financial losses of more than USD 50 million (around Rs 400 crore). The company said it had already suffered losses of over UAH 1 billion (more than Rs 250 crore) after its Ukrainian warehouse was destroyed in a Russian drone attack in 2025.
With the latest strike causing extensive damage to its manufacturing facility, Kusum said it had been forced to bear significant financial losses while continuing to operate its pharmaceutical business amid the war.
Kusum's warehouse in Ukraine was destroyed on April 14, 2025, which the company said was also caused by a Russian drone.
The company described the latest attack as a “cruel repeat strike”, saying its high-tech manufacturing plant in Sumy had been severely damaged shortly after the one-year anniversary of the earlier warehouse destruction.
Kusum operates two manufacturing units in Rajasthan's Bhiwadi and one unit in Indore.
COMPANY QUESTIONS LACK OF INDIAN SUPPORT
Kusum also expressed disappointment over what it described as a lack of response from the Government of India.
The company said it had made repeated pleas through Indian pharmaceutical forums for intervention at the highest levels of international diplomacy to protect private, life-saving businesses from the war.
"Even more contemptible is the deafening silence from the Government of India. Despite repeated pleas through Indian pharmaceutical forums to intervene at the highest levels of international diplomacy to protect private, life-saving businesses from the theatre of war, New Delhi has offered not a single word of regret or support so far," the company alleged in its release.
Kusum added it was particularly concerned that a private healthcare business involved in manufacturing life-saving medicines had become caught up in the conflict.
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