Russian Missile Strike on Ship Leaving Ukraine Port Kills Four Indians

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 21, 2026

A Russian missile attack on the bulk carrier Golden Leo near Odesa killed four Indian crew members and critically injured another, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The strike highlights the dangers to civilian shipping in the Black Sea amid ongoing conflict, prompting international condemnation and rescue efforts.

A Russian missile strike on a commercial vessel departing from the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa on Sunday resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals and left another critically injured, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported late Monday. The vessel, the Golden Leo, is a bulk carrier registered under Guinea-Bissau’s flag and operated by a crew comprising Indian and Syrian nationals.

According to Ukraine’s navy, the attack involved three cruise missiles, identified as Kh-59 and Kh-69, launched by Russian forces against the Golden Leo as it was moving out of an active combat zone while carrying a grain cargo. The strike impacted the starboard side of the vessel’s superstructure, triggering a fire onboard. Ukrainian naval authorities stated that five crew members died in the incident, with the whereabouts of another five still unknown at the time of reporting.

The ship reportedly had 17 people aboard, including five Indians. Following the attack, search and rescue operations were promptly initiated by Ukrainian navy units in coordination with the Maritime Search and Rescue Service. By Sunday night, eight crew members had been evacuated to a hospital in Odesa.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the strike, emphasizing the inappropriateness of targeting commercial shipping and endangering civilian crew members during ongoing hostilities. The ministry confirmed the number of Indian fatalities and expressed condolences to the families of those lost, while pledging to provide assistance to survivors and closely monitor developments through its diplomatic mission in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian navy described the vessel’s owners as Turkish, with the ship flying Guinea-Bissau’s flag, highlighting the international dimensions of the incident amid the broader conflict. The MEA reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce in conflict zones, calling attacks on civilian shipping “deplorable” and urging avoidance of such actions.

Efforts continue to assess the technical condition of the Golden Leo and to conduct ongoing search operations for missing crew members. The incident underscores the risks faced by commercial shipping in the Black Sea region amid Russia’s military engagement in Ukraine.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.