Black Sea Drone Strike Damages Chinese Cargo Vessel, Kyiv Says
Ukraine has accused Russia of striking a Chinese-owned cargo ship with a drone during overnight attacks in the Black Sea, in an incident that comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s planned visit to Beijing.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the vessel was hit near the port of Odesa, a key hub for Ukraine’s agricultural exports, during a wave of drone and missile strikes launched across the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a social media post that Russian forces had launched hundreds of aerial weapons overnight, including more than 500 drones, and that one of the unmanned aerial vehicles struck a civilian ship linked to China.
“The Russians could not have been unaware of what vessel was at sea,” Zelensky stated.
Ukraine’s navy confirmed that the ship, identified as KSL Deyang, sustained damage after being hit while approaching the port for loading. However, officials said the crew — all Chinese nationals — were unharmed and the vessel was able to continue its journey after managing the impact.
A navy spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, said the ship “handled the situation on its own” after the strike and proceeded to its destination without assistance.
Photographs released by Ukrainian authorities showed scorch marks on part of the vessel’s upper deck, reportedly consistent with a drone impact.
The incident occurred as Russia continues its aerial campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure and maritime facilities, with Kyiv saying the latest wave of attacks included hundreds of drones and multiple missiles.
The development also comes just days before President Putin’s scheduled trip to China for talks with President Xi Jinping, where both leaders are expected to deepen strategic ties.
China has maintained a neutral public position on the war and has repeatedly called for negotiations, without condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
#UTVAfrica#
