A 26-year-old merchant navy seafarer from Kerala was among four Indian crew members killed after a Russian missile strike hit the cargo vessel MV Golden Leo near Ukraine’s Odesa port. The incident has prompted a strong diplomatic response from India, which condemned the attack on a commercial vessel and raised the matter with Russian authorities.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship was struck while departing Ukraine’s southern port of Odesa. Ukrainian authorities said the vessel was carrying grain when it was hit by three cruise missiles, causing a major fire and multiple casualties. Reuters reported that a total of 10 people were killed, including four Indian nationals, several Syrian crew members and a Ukrainian maritime pilot, while eight others were rescued.
One of the deceased was Akhil Joyan, a 26-year-old merchant navy sailor from Vellarikkundu in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. Family members said Akhil had been working in the merchant navy for nearly six years and was the sole earning member of his family. He had recently returned home for his engagement and was scheduled to marry in about two months before rejoining duty.
The shipping company informed Akhil’s family of the tragedy through an email. His death has left relatives and residents of his hometown in deep shock. Local authorities and family members are coordinating with the central government to facilitate the repatriation of his mortal remains.
Following the attack, the Kerala government directed the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Russian Consulate to assist the affected families and expedite the return of the deceased seafarer’s body.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the attack, stating that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members is unacceptable. On Tuesday, India also summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires in New Delhi and conveyed its grave concerns over the deaths of the four Indian nationals.
The strike has once again highlighted the growing risks faced by civilian merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea region amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, where commercial shipping continues to be exposed to security threats despite international concerns.
