Four Indians killed, 1 seriously injured in attack on ship departing from Ukrainian port in Odessa Today’s News

Four Indians have been killed and one is in a critical condition in hospital after a ship sailing from Ukraine’s southern port of Odessa was attacked. India condemned the attack, calling the targeting of commercial shipping “regrettable and should be avoided”.

According to the Ukrainian Navy, the cargo ship – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel with crew from India and Syria – was hit by three missiles on Sunday 19 July.

“India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members or otherwise restricting freedom of navigation and commerce is regrettable and should be avoided,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

India said its embassy in Ukraine is in touch with local authorities and is taking all possible steps to help those affected by the incident.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and complete recovery,” the ministry said.

Ukrainian officials said the vessel was hit by Russian cruise missiles, calling it the deadliest attack in weeks of escalating violence in the Black Sea.

Ukraine’s Maritime Port Authority said search and rescue operations continued overnight after the attack. Nine crew members and a naval pilot were killed, while eight of the vessel’s 17 crew members were rescued.

The ship had 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals. According to LSEG, the vessel is owned by Mumbai-based Ocean Grace Shipping Ltd.

Meanwhile, the governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region said Russian strikes have killed 28 people in the region so far this month.

Russian strike on Odessa kills three and damages port infrastructure

In a separate incident, a Russian attack on Odessa, Ukraine’s largest port, killed three people and wounded three others on Monday, said Serhiy Lysak, head of the city’s military administration.

Lysak said the strike also damaged infrastructure at the port, Reuters reported.

Ukraine’s Maritime Port Authority said search and rescue operations continued overnight after the attack.

According to the authority, nine people were killed, including crew members and a naval pilot. She added that eight of the 17 crew members on board the vessel had been rescued, Reuters reported.