Updated 1 min 22 sec ago
July 27, 2026 00:37
Russian Attack Leads to Ukrainian Cargo Ship Sinking, Officials Confirm
- The ports authority said Russian action against the ship “violated the norms of international maritime law”
Updated 1 min 22 sec ago
Reuters
July 27, 2026 00:37
An international cargo vessel sank off the coast of Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa on Sunday, a week after officials confirmed it had been struck by Russian forces. Ukraine’s ports authority stated that the Golden Leo, registered under a Guinea-Bissau flag, had sunk near Odesa. A statement reported nine crew members were killed in the attack, while eight were evacuated to safety.
The vessel, which departed from Chornomorsk carrying a cargo of corn, sustained significant damage during a Russian shelling on July 19. It was en route through a Ukrainian-controlled coastal corridor toward Romania.
The ports authority emphasized that Russian actions against the ship “violating international maritime law” endangered lives. A Reuters witness in Odesa observed smoke rising from the vessel at the time. Moscow has not yet issued public remarks on the incident.
Recent weeks have seen intensified Russian attacks on critical deepwater ports in southern Ukraine, which handle much of the country’s grain and essential cargo, marking the war’s fifth year.
