Four Indian citizens were killed, while one was seriously injured in the attack on the cargo ship MV Golden Leo, which departed from Odessa port in Ukraine. India has expressed strong protest over the incident.
A very sad news has emerged from the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Four Indian citizens were killed, while one Indian was seriously injured in the attack on the commercial cargo ship MV Golden Leo, which departed from Odessa port in Ukraine. After the incident, the Indian government reacted strongly and described the targeting of commercial ships as completely unacceptable and condemnable.
There were 17 crew members on board, five Indians were also included
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), a total of 17 crew members were present on the ship at the time of the attack on the evening of 19 July 2026, including five Indian nationals. Four Indians lost their lives in the attack, while one Indian is undergoing treatment in hospital. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is continuously monitoring the entire incident and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected Indians and their families. The government has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured Indian.
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India expressed strong protest, questions raised on maritime security
India in its official statement said that attacking commercial ships, putting the lives of innocent crew at risk and disrupting the freedom of international maritime trade is completely unacceptable. India has appealed to all parties to ensure the security of international sea lanes and not to target civilian ships.
After this incident, serious questions have been raised regarding the safety of global maritime trade and civilian ships in the Black Sea. It is being considered as one of the most serious incidents involving Indian sailors in international waters in recent years.
Ukraine accuses Russia, demands international action
After this incident, Ukraine has directly accused Russia of the attack. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister claimed that Russia targeted a civilian cargo ship passing through the Ukrainian maritime corridor. According to him, a Ukrainian Marine pilot and four Indian crew members were killed in the attack.
Ukraine also said it would raise the matter with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and demand tough international action and new sanctions against Russia. However, there has been no immediate official reaction from Russia on these allegations. In such a situation, the claims of both sides regarding the attack are yet to be independently verified.
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