Odessa ship attack: Bodies of two Indian seafarers identified
Two Indian seafarers have been identified among at least ten crew members killed when the general cargo vessel MV Golden Leo was struck by missiles
Two Indian seafarers have been identified among at least ten crew members killed when the general cargo vessel MV Golden Leo was struck by missiles while departing the Port of Odesa on Sunday (July 19, 2026). Two among the dead Indians dead have been identified as Chief Officer Akhil Jovan, 26, of Kerala, and Ordinary Seaman Abhishek Nishad, 21, of Uttar Pradesh. Both had signed on to the vessel at Istanbul on June 12.
The Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, carrying a cargo of grain, came under attack at approximately 1600 hrs Ukraine local time as it exited the port. Three missiles struck the ship, according to official sources. A Ukrainian port pilot was on board at the time, guiding the vessel out of harbour. Golden Leo was carrying 17 crew members — five Indian nationals and 12 Syrian nationals — besides the Ukrainian pilot.
The ship was under the command of Master Ahmad Hamwia, a Syrian national. All ten crew initially listed as missing have now been confirmed dead, and all bodies recovered. Eight of the ten remain unidentified, owing to severe burns sustained in the attack. Identification is pending through established forensic procedure. The bodies of two more Indian seafarers is feared to 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 engaged through a Navi Mumbai-based recruitment and placement service licence (RPSL) holder. Golden Leo, built and operating under the Guinea-Bissau flag, was struck just outside the Odesa Sea Port Control area — one of the exit channels vessels use after loading at the port’s grain terminals.
The BriefWire