India Condemns Deadly Attack on Cargo Ship Near Odesa, Four Indian Crew Members Killed

New Delhi, July 2026 : India on Monday strongly condemned the missile attack on a commercial cargo vessel departing Ukraine’s Odesa port that claimed the lives of four Indian nationals and left another critically injured. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the attack as deplorable and called for the protection of commercial shipping and civilian seafarers during armed conflicts.

In an official statement, the MEA said the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo came under attack on the evening of July 19 shortly after leaving the port of Odesa. The ship had 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals.

According to the ministry, four Indian crew members were killed in the strike, while the fifth was seriously injured and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.

“Our Mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected,” the MEA said. It also conveyed its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured sailor a speedy and complete recovery.

India also reiterated its firm opposition to attacks on civilian maritime traffic.

“India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided,” the ministry stated.

According to media reports from Ukraine, the Turkish-owned cargo vessel Golden Leo, sailing under the Guinea-Bissau flag, was struck by a Russian missile while departing Odesa. The attack reportedly killed 10 people in total, including the four Indian nationals.

The Ukraine Air Force said Russian forces launched three Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles during the assault. One of the missiles struck the starboard side of the cargo vessel, triggering a major fire onboard.

The Kyiv Post reported that eight crew members were rescued from the burning vessel and taken to hospitals in Odesa for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Russia acknowledged carrying out strikes against Ukrainian port infrastructure. In a statement posted on its official Telegram channel, the Russian Ministry of Defence said its armed forces continued attacks on Ukrainian ports and vessels allegedly operating in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The ministry stated that Oniks anti-ship missiles, air-launched cruise missiles and loitering munitions were used to target port infrastructure and maritime assets. Among the targets mentioned were two bulk carriers carrying military cargo anchored off the Port of Odesa.

The attack highlights the continuing dangers faced by merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea region as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to threaten international shipping routes. Indian authorities are maintaining close contact with local officials and the affected families while monitoring the condition of the injured crew member and extending all necessary consular assistance.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by civilian seafarers caught in conflict zones, with India reiterating the importance of safeguarding commercial navigation and protecting innocent lives at sea.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)