Two Indian Seafarers Identified After Deadly Odessa Ship Attack

On the evening of 19 July 2026, the grain carrier MV Golden Leo was hit by missiles just as it was pulling away from the Port of Odesa, Ukraine. The attack, which took place at roughly 16:00 local time, turned a routine departure into a tragedy that claimed the lives of every crew member on board.

The vessel, sailing under the flag of Guinea‑Bissau, was carrying a mixed crew of 17 people – five Indians, twelve Syrians and a Ukrainian port pilot. All ten sailors who were on the ship’s deck when the missiles struck have now been confirmed dead, and their bodies have been recovered.

Eight of the bodies were badly burned, making visual identification impossible. For those, forensic teams are still working to establish names. Among the recovered remains, however, two Indian seafarers have been positively identified.

The first is Chief Officer Akhil Jovan, a 26‑year‑old from Kerala. The second is Ordinary Seaman Abhishek Nishad, just 21, hailing from Uttar Pradesh. Both men had signed on to the Golden Leo in Istanbul on 12 June 2026, and they were employed through a recruitment and placement service licence (RPSL) holder based in Navi Mumbai.

The ship’s master, Syrian national Ahmad Hamwia, was also among those who lost their lives. The incident has underscored once again how the broader Russia‑Ukraine conflict continues to spill over into commercial shipping lanes, putting ordinary seafarers in harm’s way.

Indian authorities have conveyed their condolences to the families of Jovan and Nishad, while also assuring that they will support any further investigations needed to bring closure to the remaining unidentified victims.