Russian missile strike on cargo ship Golden Leo kills 10, including four Indians
On 19 July 2026 Russian cruise missiles hit the Guinea‑Bissau‑flagged bulk carrier Golden Leo as it was departing the port of Odesa in the Black Sea. The ship, owned by a Turkish firm and carrying a cargo of corn, was struck by three Kh‑59/Kh‑69 missiles, igniting a fire. Ukrainian naval officials said the attack killed ten people – four Indian seafarers, several Syrian crew members and a Ukrainian captain – and left eight crew rescued, with several still missing. Ukraine’s navy described the strike as “an act of terror against peaceful navigation and a grave violation of international humanitarian law.” India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Russian Chargé d’Affaires Vladimir Ladanov, conveying “grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation” of the attack. The incident is part of a recent surge in Russian attacks on the maritime corridor that transports two‑thirds of Ukraine’s agricultural exports, valued at around $9 billion. Kyiv’s government said it is preparing measures to improve navigation safety and protect civilian vessels amid the escalating threat to international grain shipments.