Kasaragod, Kerala: A 26-year-old merchant navy sailor from Kerala was among four Indian nationals killed after a commercial vessel came under attack while departing Ukraine's Odesa port, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Akhil Joyan, a native of Vellarikkundu in Kasaragod district. He was the only son of Joyan and Sally. While the MEA confirmed that four Indian nationals had died in the attack, the Chief Minister's Office in Kerala said official confirmation of Akhil's identity was still awaited.

The vessel, MV Golden Leo, had 17 crew members on board, including five Indians. According to the MEA, four Indian crew members were killed and another remains in hospital in a critical condition.

India condemned the attack, describing strikes on commercial shipping and civilian crew members as "deplorable", but did not identify who was responsible.

Family informed by shipping company

According to local representatives, Akhil's family received an email from the shipping company on Monday evening informing them of his death.

Shobi Joseph, ward member of Vellarikkundu in Balal grama panchayat, said Akhil had joined the merchant navy at the age of 19. He had returned home around three months ago for his engagement ceremony and resumed work about a month ago.

His wedding was scheduled to take place in two months. His fiancée is from Alappuzha district.

Joseph described Akhil as a well-known and disciplined youngster who was also a popular tug-of-war player in the locality. His father works at an electrical shop, while his mother is an insurance agent. The family had recently built a house and was largely dependent on Akhil's income.

The family is in touch with the local MP and MLA for assistance in repatriating his body and completing the required formalities.

India condemns attack on commercial shipping

The MEA said the attack took place on the evening of July 19, as MV Golden Leo was leaving the port of Odesa.

"The vessel MV Golden Leo was attacked while departing the port of Odesa. At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including five Indian nationals," the ministry said.

"As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalised in a critical condition."

The ministry said the Indian Embassy in Ukraine was closely monitoring the situation and providing all possible assistance to those affected.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery," the statement said.

India also reiterated that targeting commercial shipping, endangering innocent civilian crew members and disrupting freedom of navigation and commerce should be avoided. 

Attack comes amid intensified Russia-Ukraine conflict

The incident comes as hostilities between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate.

According to foreign media reports, Ukraine's Sea Ports Authority said a cargo vessel flying the Guinea-Bissau flag was struck by Russian forces shortly after leaving Odesa on Sunday. The vessel, carrying Ukrainian corn, reportedly lost 10 crew members, including five Syrian sailors, while eight others were rescued.

On Monday, the conflict intensified further. Russian authorities said a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus in the Belgorod region, killing five people, including a child, and injuring 23 others.

Ukraine, meanwhile, said Russian strikes on the cities of Pavlograd, Kramatorsk, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia killed at least eight people.

The latest exchanges come as efforts led by the United States to negotiate an end to the more than four-year conflict remain stalled. According to the United Nations, June recorded the highest monthly civilian death toll in Ukraine since April 2022.