Four Indian seafarers among 10 killed in vessel attack off Ukraine coast

Four Indian seafarers were among 10 people killed in an attack on a Guinea-Bissau-flagged merchant vessel off the coast of Ukraine, prompting strong condemnation from India and fresh demands to protect commercial shipping during conflicts. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia attacked a civilian vessel navigating Ukraine's maritime corridor on Sunday and its crew included citizens of Syria and India. It is first instance of the death of Indian seafarers in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MV Golden Leo was attacked on the evening of July 19. The vessel had 17 crew members on board, including five Indians. "As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalised in a critical condition," the MEA said in a statement on Monday. The attack is among the deadliest incidents involving Indian seafarers since tensions escalated again in the Black Sea."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 said. "Our Mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected," the ministry said, extending condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishing the injured crew member a full recovery.
Ukrainian officials said the ship was struck by Russian cruise missiles, in what they called the deadliest attack in a weeks-long flare-up of violence in the Black Sea. According to Ukraine's navy, Russia hit the Golden Leo, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship carrying corn and manned by a crew from India and Syria, with three cruise missiles, causing a fire. Ukraine's seaports authority said a search and rescue operation ran through the night, with nine crew members and one maritime pilot killed. Eight of the vessel's 17 crew members were rescued.
Ukraine's governor for the Odesa region said Russian strikes have killed 28 people there so far this month. Separately, a Ukrainian drone strike on a bus in Russia's Belgorod region killed five people, including a child, on Monday, while Russian strikes on several Ukrainian cities left at least eight dead. Both sides have intensified attacks in recent weeks.