Russian missile strike kills 10 on cargo ship off Odesa, including 4 Indians
A Russian missile attack on a cargo ship off the coast of Odesa, Ukraine, has killed 10 people, including four Indian nationals, authorities said on Monday.
The Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, named the Golden Leo, was hit by Russian cruise missiles on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The strike caused a fire on board, prompting a search and rescue operation that lasted through the night.
By Monday morning, Ukraine's seaports authority confirmed that nine crew members and one Ukrainian pilot had died. India's foreign ministry later confirmed that four of its citizens were among the deceased, stating that endangering crew members and impeding freedom of navigation is deplorable.
The attack is the deadliest on a merchant ship since Russia intensified its strikes on cargo vessels in the Black Sea. In recent weeks, the Odesa region has faced sustained attacks, with 28 people killed in July alone, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper.
The Golden Leo was operating along Ukraine's last remaining maritime export corridor, which runs down the Romanian and Bulgarian coastlines to Turkey. Maritime exports account for over two-thirds of Ukraine's agricultural exports, valued at roughly $9 billion, a crucial source of revenue for Kyiv.
Fighting in the Black Sea has been largely stalemated since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. While Ukrainian vessels are restricted to areas near Odesa due to Russian naval control, Ukraine's drone strikes have forced Russian ships to remain near their eastern Black Sea bases.
