Cargo ship Golden Leo sinks after Russian missile strike

A civilian cargo ship struck by Russian missiles earlier this month sank off the coast of Odesa on July 26, Ukrainian authorities reported, marking a significant escalation in attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. The vessel, the MV Golden Leo, capsized and went down a week after it was hit by three Russian cruise missiles on July 19 while departing the port of Chornomorsk with a cargo of corn.

The attack on July 19 killed 10 people: nine crew members and a Ukrainian harbor pilot. The crew included Syrian and Indian nationals, with at least four of the deceased confirmed to be Indian citizens. Eight other crew members were rescued in an overnight operation conducted under the threat of further strikes, with at least one survivor critically injured. Ukrainian officials stated there were no crew aboard when the ship finally sank.

The Golden Leo, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel operated by a Turkish company, sustained severe damage to its hull and superstructure in the missile strike, which Ukrainian authorities said targeted the ship's accommodation block. The damage led to a progressive loss of seaworthiness, and the ship remained adrift for days before capsizing in...