Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: A Russian missile strike on the MV Golden Leo near Ukraine’s Odesa port has left four Indian nationals dead, and another critically injured, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Monday. The attack took place as the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship departed Odesa on July 19, raising fresh concerns over the safety of commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
India strongly condemned the strike, calling attacks on civilian shipping “deplorable.”
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: MV Golden Leo Attack – Four Indian Nationals Killed, One Critically Injured
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that four Indian crew members lost their lives, while a fifth Indian national remains in critical condition following the missile strike.
According to the MEA, there were 17 crew members aboard the cargo vessel, including five Indians.
In its official statement, the ministry said, “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.”
Our statement on attacks on commercial vessel – MV GOLDEN LEO ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/rhM365hrWJ pic.twitter.com/UMfD7qmT53
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 20, 2026
The ministry also expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery.”
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: How Did the Russian Missile Strike Happen?
According to the Ukrainian Navy, Russian forces fired three cruise missiles at the MV Golden Leo shortly after it departed the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa on Sunday evening.
The strike reportedly caused a massive fire aboard the vessel, which was transporting cargo through the Black Sea.
Ukraine said the ship sailed under the Guinea-Bissau flag and carried a multinational crew consisting of Indian and Syrian nationals. Russia had not issued any official response regarding Ukraine’s allegations at the time of publication.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: MEA Condemns Attack on Commercial Shipping
India strongly condemned the missile strike, saying commercial vessels and civilian crew members should never become targets during armed conflict.
The MEA stated, “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 added that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine remains in close contact with local authorities and is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Who Owns MV Golden Leo?
According to shipping data from LSEG, cited by Reuters, MV Golden Leo is owned by Mumbai-based Ocean Grace Shipping Ltd.
The cargo vessel was operating as part of a commercial voyage when it came under missile attack while leaving Odesa. The ship’s management company had not publicly commented on the incident.
Ukraine’s Seaports Authority said emergency responders worked throughout the night to rescue survivors and recover victims after the missile strike. Officials said nine people, including crew members and one maritime pilot, died in the attack.
Rescue teams managed to save eight of the vessel’s 17 crew members, while investigators continued assessing the damage caused by the strike.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Separate Russian Strike on Odesa Kills Three More
In a separate attack on Monday, Russian forces reportedly targeted Ukraine’s largest seaport city, Odesa. According to local military administration officials, the strike killed three people and injured three others.
Authorities also reported damage to infrastructure facilities, although they did not immediately release further details about the affected sites.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Russia-Ukraine War Raises Fresh Concerns Over Black Sea Shipping
The latest attack has once again highlighted the growing risks facing commercial shipping in the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.
The deaths of four Indian nationals have drawn international attention to the dangers confronting civilian seafarers operating in conflict zones. With Black Sea shipping routes remaining vulnerable to military action, concerns are mounting over the safety of global maritime trade and the protection of innocent crew members caught in the crossfire.
