Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Four Indian seafarers have been killed in an attack on a merchant vessel near Ukraine’s Odesa port, while one more Indian crew member is critically injured and five others remain missing, according to Ukrainian officials and Indian reports. The ship, MV Golden Leo, was attacked as it was leaving the port on Sunday evening.

The vessel had 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals, and was reportedly struck by missiles while sailing out of Odesa on the Black Sea. India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack and said its mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and providing all possible assistance to those affected.

Ukrainian Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha blamed Russia for the strike and said five crew members were still unaccounted for after the attack. Search and rescue operations continued through the night, and later reports said the toll could rise as more information comes in.

The attack on the MV Golden Leo has turned into a major tragedy for Indian seafarers caught in the Russia-Ukraine war. With several crew members still missing and one Indian in critical condition, the incident has sharply raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea.