A serious incident has occurred in the Black Sea, resulting in the deaths of foreign nationals and sparking a diplomatic outcry. Following an attack on the merchant vessel 'Golden Leo', which was departing from the port of Odesa, four Indian citizens were killed, and another crew member remains in critical condition in the hospital.
Official confirmation of the casualties was provided by the Ministry of External Affairs of India, as reported by RBC-Ukraine citing Reuters. The ministry's statement contains a stern formulation: attacks on commercial vessels and threats to the lives of civilian crew members are unacceptable and must cease.
Details of the Tragedy
The events unfolded on July 19. Russian forces attacked a merchant vessel flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, which was leaving one of the Ukrainian ports after loading corn. On board were 17 people — citizens of Syria and India, as well as a pilot from the 'Delta-Pilot' branch of the state enterprise 'AMPU'.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, the enemy launched three Kh-59/Kh-69 cruise missiles. One of the missiles hit the area of the superstructure on the starboard side, immediately causing a fire. The rescue operation lasted all night. Although the fire was eventually contained, the cost of the strike was high: eight crew members were rescued and evacuated, while ten people died. Among the deceased was a Ukrainian pilot.
Series of Attacks on Ports
The incident with the 'Golden Leo' was part of a series of aggressive actions against port infrastructure. Two days prior, on July 17, a Russian drone struck the bulk carrier 'Venturo' flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, which was docked in the port of Odesa. On July 18, the Russian army launched another massive strike on objects in the Odesa region, and another merchant vessel flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda came under fire.
The consequences of these attacks go beyond local combat operations, raising issues of international security and freedom of navigation.
