Adedokun Waliyu A Russian drone struck a Chinese cargo ship in the Black Sea overnight, according to Ukrainian authorities, just days before Vladimir Putin begins a two-day visit to China for talks with Xi Jinping.
Ukraine said the attack occurred near the port city of Odesa, a major hub for the country’s agricultural exports and a frequent target of Russian strikes.
Volodymyr Zelensky said one of the drones hit a Chinese-owned cargo vessel identified as the KSL Deyang.
“Drones struck Odesa … and one of the UAVs hit a vessel owned by China,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
“The Russians could not have been unaware of what vessel was at sea,” he added.
According to Ukraine’s navy, the vessel was entering port for loading when it was struck during the night. Officials said the crew, all Chinese citizens, managed the situation themselves after the impact.
Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that no crew members were injured and the vessel was able to continue its journey to its destination port.
The Ukrainian navy also released a photograph showing part of the ship’s upper deck blackened from the apparent drone strike.
Zelensky said Russia launched 524 attack drones and 22 missiles overnight against Ukraine, including ballistic and cruise missiles.
China has repeatedly called for negotiations to end the war but has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, maintaining what it describes as a neutral position in the conflict.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions in the Black Sea region following the collapse of the grain export agreement brokered in 2022 by Turkey and the United Nations, which had allowed Ukrainian grain shipments through the Black Sea corridor.
