They sailed to do their job, then war followed
The Russian missile strike on MV Golden Leo as it departed Ukraine's Odesa port, killing four Indian seafarers, is the latest reminder that India's merchant
The Russian missile strike on MV Golden Leo as it departed Ukraine's Odesa port, killing four Indian seafarers, is the latest reminder that India's merchant mariners are increasingly paying the price for conflicts far beyond the country's borders. While the latest tragedy unfolded in the Black Sea, it marks only the newest chapter in a series of attacks that have steadily expanded from the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and now into the Russia-Ukraine war, exposing one of India's largest overseas workforces to some of the world's most dangerous maritime corridors. Infographic by India Today OSINT showing documented casualties of Indian seafarers during Iran and Ukraine conflict Read Full Story India Today's Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysis of official government data, Ministry of External Affairs statements and media reports shows that 17 Indian seafarers have lost their lives in conflict-linked attacks on merchant shipping since the Iran war began. CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE The latest strike in Odesa marks a significant shift. For Indian seafarers, the danger is no longer confined to a single theatre of conflict. As geopolitical rivalries increasingly spill into commercial sea lanes, merchant vessels have become unintended battlefields, placing thousands of Indian mariners on the frontlines of wars they have no role in fighting.
According to the Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, published by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), India has more than 3 lakh seafarers, including around 1.41 lakh officers and over 1.7 lakh ratings (skilled workforce). The country accounts for more than 12% of the global maritime workforce and is the world's second-largest supplier of merchant mariners, behind only the Philippines. Infographic showing Indian contribution to the global seafarer community The first major loss came on March 1, 2026, when a tanker named MT Skylight was struck north of Khasab, near the eastern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, during the opening weeks of the Iran conflict. The missile strike killed two Indian seafarers, with one dying immediately and another later succumbing to injuries after initially being reported missing. Three months later, on June 10, the Palau-flagged MT Settebello was struck by US forces off the coast of Oman after Washington alleged the vessel had violated its maritime blockade targeting Iranian oil shipments. The attack killed three Indian crew members, making it the deadliest single incident involving Indian seafarers until the latest Russian strike. The attack also triggered sharp diplomatic exchanges between New Delhi and Washington. In a post on X after speaking with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, External Affairs Minister S.
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