Russian Missile Strike Kills 10 Crew on Cargo Ship Near Odesa

Ten crew members were killed after the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship *Golden Leo *was struck by a Russian cruise missile near the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa on July 19.

According to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA), the vessel was carrying a crew of 17, including Indian and Syrian nationals. The ship had departed from a Ukrainian port loaded with corn when it was hit on its starboard side, triggering a fire on board.

The USPA said search and rescue operations continued throughout the night as emergency responders worked to extinguish the blaze. Eight people were rescued and safely brought ashore. However, 10 people lost their lives in the attack, including a Ukrainian maritime pilot, according to the port authority.

The incident is one of the deadliest attacks involving a merchant vessel operating near Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in recent months.