New Delhi, July 21, 2026 — India on Monday strongly condemned a missile attack on the merchant vessel MV Golden Leo near Ukraine’s port of Odessa that killed four Indian seafarers and left one critically injured. The incident marks the first reported deaths of Indian nationals among civilian crew in the Russia-Ukraine war that began in February 2022.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the vessel was attacked on the evening of July 19, 2026, while departing from Odessa, Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port. There were 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals. Four Indians tragically lost their lives, while the fifth is hospitalised in critical condition.
“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 MEA stated. The ministry also highlighted India’s consistent opposition to attacks on merchant vessels.
Ukrainian Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha blamed Russia for the strike on the civilian vessel, which also killed a Ukrainian maritime pilot. He noted that the crew included citizens of Syria and India. Sybiha described the attack as part of a pattern, mentioning another merchant vessel (flagged by Antigua and Barbuda) struck by Russia in the Black Sea on Saturday. Ukraine has informed the International Maritime Organization and relevant governments about the incidents.
Maritime Trade News reported that the Golden Leo carried Syrian and Indian nationals, with at least 10 sailors killed in total in the attack. Russian authorities have not yet commented on the incident. A photograph released by the Ukrainian Navy shows the destroyed civilian cargo ship on the Black Sea following the alleged missile strike.
Broader Context
The tragedy comes amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including strikes that killed six people in Kyiv and other areas, exposing gaps in Ukraine’s air defences. It also follows several incidents involving Indian seafarers in the Gulf due to U.S. and Iranian actions on commercial vessels.
The MEA is coordinating with Ukrainian authorities and families of the deceased seafarers. This incident underscores the risks faced by Indian nationals working in maritime trade in conflict zones.
India has maintained a balanced diplomatic stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict while prioritising the safety of its citizens abroad and upholding the principle of freedom of navigation on international waters.