An international cargo vessel, the Golden Leo, sank off Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa on Sunday, following a Russian attack a week earlier. The vessel, flagged under Guinea-Bissau, was reportedly struck while carrying corn from Chornomorsk. Ukrainian officials confirmed that nine crew members lost their lives in the incident, while eight were successfully evacuated.
The Ukrainian ports authority stated that the ship suffered significant damage from shelling by Russian forces on July 19 as it navigated a corridor along the coast towards Romania. They condemned the attack as a violation of international maritime law, emphasizing the danger posed to the crew’s lives.
Witnesses in Odesa reported seeing smoke rising from the vessel at the time of the incident. Moscow has not issued any statements regarding the attack. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified assaults on southern Ukraine’s deepwater ports, critical for the transportation of grain and other essential goods, amid ongoing conflict that has now entered its fifth year.
