The UN's top court on Wednesday ordered Russia to suspend its invasion of Ukraine, saying it was "profoundly concerned" by Moscow's use of force. India's judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Justice Dalveer Bhandari, also voted against Russia.  India has abstained from voting on the Ukraine-Russia issue in the UN and instead called on both sides to focus on negotiations and end hostilities.

"The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend military operations that it commenced on 24 February on the territory of Ukraine," pending the final decision in the case, presiding judge Joan Donoghue told the ICJ. "The court is profoundly concerned about the use of force by the Russian Federation which raises very serious issues in international law," Justice Donoghue told a hearing in The Hague.

Kyiv dragged Moscow to the UN's top court days after Russia's attack on February 24.

Justice Bhandari was nominated to the ICJ entirely on the support of the Indian government and intense lobbying for him by India's UN mission. Justice Bhandari voting against Russia, though an independent move based on his interpretation of the Russia-Ukraine issue, is different from what India's official position has been in different international fora.