India has dismissed a media report regarding the diversion of its defense exports to Ukraine as “speculative and misleading.” A Reuters article had claimed that artillery shells produced by Indian arms manufacturers were being redirected by European buyers to Ukraine, and that India had not intervened in this trade despite objections from Moscow.

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement refuting the claims, “”We have seen the Reuters report. It is speculative and misleading. It implies violations by India, where none exist and, hence, is inaccurate and mischievous,” said the ministry. 

The ministry emphasized that there have been no violations by India and that the country maintains a strong record of compliance with international regulations concerning the export of military and dual-use goods.

The MEA further highlighted that India follows strict international obligations related to non-proliferation. All defense exports are conducted based on a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework, which includes a thorough assessment of factors such as end-user obligations and certifications.

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The Reuters report cited sources and customs data, claiming that munitions had been transferred to Ukraine for over a year. It also mentioned that Russia had raised concerns about this matter with India, including during a July meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.

The ministry’s statement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Modi had also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on August 23, urging both sides to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

While India has strengthened its defense and diplomatic ties with Washington, particularly in response to the rise of China, it also maintains a longstanding relationship with Russia, its key arms supplier. Despite these ties, India has refrained from participating in the Western-led sanctions against Moscow.