Ukraine: Four Indians killed, one critical in attack on cargo ship

Four Indians were killed and one critically injured after a cargo ship was attacked while it departed the port of Odesa in Ukraine on Sunday, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel Golden Leo was attacked on Sunday evening as it left the port. The five Indians were among the 17 crew on board the ship.

The Indian diplomatic mission in Ukraine was monitoring the situation and efforts were being made to assist the persons affected, said the ministry.

New Delhi said it condemns such attacks, and reiterated that “targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided”.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of attacking the vessel inside his country’s maritime corridor.

Sybiha said on social media: “A civilian ship. An international crew. A route serving global food security. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin saw another target.”

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Written by Nachiket Deuskar. Edited by Sneha.
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