Key facts
- A civilian cargo ship, the Golden Leo, sank in the Black Sea after being struck by Russian missiles.
- The attack occurred on July 19 while the ship was transporting grain near Odesa.
- Nine crew members and a Ukrainian pilot were killed in the strike.
- Three Russian Black Sea grain terminals have restricted truck deliveries due to increased shipping risks.
- Ukraine's Sea Ports Authority condemned the attack as a violation of international maritime law.
A civilian cargo ship, the Golden Leo, sank in the Black Sea near Odesa after being struck by Russian missiles on July 19, Ukrainian authorities reported. The vessel, which was transporting grain, sustained significant damage to its hull and superstructure, leading to its loss of seaworthiness. The attack resulted in the deaths of nine crew members and a Ukrainian pilot.
In parallel, three major Russian Black Sea grain export terminals have restricted truck deliveries due to increased shipping risks and redirected grain flows. These terminals, NZT and KSK in Novorossiysk, and ZTKT in Taman, have a combined annual shipping capacity exceeding 20 million tons, out of total Russian seaborne grain exports of around 50 million tons annually. Russia had previously restricted shipping through the Sea of Azov following drone attacks.
Ukraine's Sea Ports Authority condemned the attack on the Golden Leo, stating it grossly violates international maritime law and creates a direct threat to seafarers, jeopardizing international maritime transport and global food security. The Odesa Oblast Governor also condemned the attack, characterizing it as deliberate targeting of civilian shipping and proof of the aggressor country's terrorist nature.