Cargo ship struck by missiles near Odesa, ten crew members killed

On July 19, 2026, the merchant vessel Golden Leo, sailing under the Guinea-Bissau flag, was struck by three cruise missiles near the port of Odesa. The ship, which was transporting corn, caught fire as a result of the attack. According to the Ukrainian Navy and port authorities, nine crew members and one pilot lost their lives. Out of the 17 total crew members, eight were successfully rescued following an overnight search and rescue operation. The vessel belongs to the Mumbai-based firm Ocean Grace Shipping Ltd and is managed by Friends Shipping Co SA. The crew consisted of Indian and Syrian nationals. Reuters witnesses confirmed observing smoke rising from the vessel off the coast. As of July 20, 2026, the Russian government has not issued an official comment regarding the incident. This attack represents a significant escalation of maritime hostilities in the Black Sea region.