Russia says it struck Ukrainian ports as India protests deadly attack on MV Golden Leo

Jul 22, 2026

Russia said it had carried out strikes on port infrastructure and vessels in Odesa and Chornomorsk that it alleged were supporting Ukrainian military operations, although Reuters could not independently verify the claims. Separately, Ukraine's navy accused Russia of launching a cruise missile attack on the MV Golden Leo as it left Odesa on July 19, 2026, killing at least 10 crew members, including four Indian sailors. India summoned Russian Chargé d'Affaires Vladimir Ladanov and raised concerns with Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian forces would continue targeting vessels they suspected of transporting weapons, ammunition, or other military goods for Ukraine.

Black Sea cargo vessel strike

▪Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, without providing evidence, that the MV Golden Leo was transporting ammunition or other military goods, while Ukraine's navy said the vessel was carrying grain.
▪A suspected Russian cruise missile attack on the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship MV Golden Leo on July 19, 2026, killed at least 10 crew members, including four Indian sailors, as the vessel left Odesa.

India-Russia diplomatic tensions

▪Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar conveyed strong concerns regarding the safety of Indian seafarers to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in the Philippines.
▪India's foreign ministry summoned Russian Chargé d'Affaires Vladimir Ladanov to protest the July 19, 2026, attack on the MV Golden Leo, saying that the targeting of commercial shipping and resulting loss of civilian lives were unacceptable.

Russian targeting of Ukrainian shipping

▪Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian forces will continue targeting vessels suspected of transporting weapons, ammunition, and military goods for Ukraine.
▪Russian Defense Ministry statements claimed that Russian forces struck port infrastructure, fuel storage tanks, and vessels in Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Mykolaiv; the claims were not independently verified.

Indian seafarers in conflict zones

▪India is one of the world's largest suppliers of merchant vessel crews, employing more than 300,000 seafarers globally.
▪At least 10 Indian seafarers have been killed in attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

India-Russia strategic relationship

▪India maintains close ties with Russia, relying heavily on Moscow for military hardware and discounted oil while balancing relations with the United States.
▪The United States has pressured India to reduce its purchases of Russian oil, arguing that the purchases help fund Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.