Odessa ship attack: Bodies of two Indian sailors identified
Smoke rises from the Guinea-Bissau-flagged Golden Lion grain carrier after a Russian missile strike in the Black Sea near Odesa, Ukraine, on July 19, 2026, local media reported. | Photo credit: AP
Two Indian sailors have been identified among at least ten crew members killed when the general cargo vessel MV Golden Leo was hit by missiles while departing the port of Odessa on Sunday (July 19, 2026). Two among the dead Indians were identified as Chief Warrant Officer Akhil Jovan (26) from Kerala and Private Seaman Abhishek Nishad (21) from Uttar Pradesh. Both signed on a ship in Istanbul on June 12.
The Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel carrying a cargo of grain was attacked at approximately 16:00 Ukrainian local time as it was leaving the port. According to official sources, three missiles hit the ship. A Ukrainian harbor pilot was on board at the time, guiding the vessel out of the harbor.
Apart from the Ukrainian pilot, the Golden Leo was carrying 17 crew members – five Indian citizens and 12 Syrian citizens. The ship was under the command of Master Ahmad Hamwi, a Syrian national.
All ten crew members initially reported as missing have now been confirmed dead and all bodies have been recovered. Eight of the ten remain unidentified due to the severe burns they sustained in the attack. Identification takes place through an established forensic procedure. It is feared that the bodies of two other Indian sailors will be among them.
Eight others, including a third Indian national serving as third officer, were rescued and are undergoing hospital treatment.
The Indian seafarers on board were employed through a Recruiting and Placement Services Licensee (RPSL) based in Navi Mumbai.
The Golden Leo, built and operating under the flag of Guinea-Bissau, was hit just outside the control area of the Odesa seaport – one of the exit channels that vessels use after loading at the port’s grain terminals.
Published – 21 Jul 2026 11:50 IST