Four Indian Crew Killed in Attack on MV Golden Leo at Ukraine's Odesa Port

Four Indian nationals were killed and another injured after the vessel MV Golden Leo was attacked while departing Ukraine's Odesa port, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. The ship had 17 crew members onboard, including five Indians, at the time of the incident. India condemned the attack, calling for protection of commercial shipping and freedom of navigation.

On the evening of 19 July 2026, the vessel MV GOLDEN LEO was "attacked" while departing the port of Odesa, said MEA in a statement on social media platform X. "At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including 5 Indian nationals."

"As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalized in a critical condition. Our Mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery."

"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 Russian missile strike on the ship carrying was the deadliest attack in a weeks-long flare-up of violence in the Black Sea.

Golden Leo is owned by Mumbai-based Ocean Grace Shipping Ltd, according to LSEG data.

A separate Russian attack on Odesa, Ukraine's largest seaport, killed three people and wounded three others on Monday, Serhiy Lysak, head of the city's military administration, said. He said infrastructure facilities came under attack but gave no further details.

Ukraine, Russia step up strikes on crucial shipping route

The Black Sea was a flashpoint of the Ukraine war in the months following Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbour. But under a deal meant to ease global price shocks and allow both countries to ship grain, shipping had largely resumed.

Moscow and Kyiv, however, are now stepping up attacks in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov and targeting key revenue sources.

Ukrainian forces have hit Russian energy infrastructure, including oil tankers, while Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine's deepwater ports and cargo vessels.

Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that its forces hit fuel reservoirs at the port of Odesa overnight, Interfax reported.

Russian strikes have killed 28 people in the Odesa region so far this month, its governor said on Monday.

Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain exporters, and the renewed violence on this route has raised concerns about supply.

Ukraine, which in recent seasons accounted for about 6% of global wheat exports and about 11% of global corn exports, has lost about a third of its capacity to export grain via its Black Sea ports due to Russian missile and drone attacks, traders and analysts have said.

The Ukrainian attacks have forced Russia, the world's top grain exporter, to limit shipping in the Sea of Azov — a route that handles about a quarter of its grain exports, sources have told Reuters.