On Monday, May 18, a Russian drone attacked two ships heading to the port in the Odesa region of Ukraine, including a Chinese cargo ship, in the Black Sea. The attack occurred the day before Russian President Putin’s meeting with China’s Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The Ukrainian port authority reported that the attack took place on Monday, targeting two civilian ships, one flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, and the other flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau. Both ships were en route to the port in the Odesa region.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, a cargo ship named “KSL Deyang” was attacked, owned by a Chinese company with all crew members being Chinese citizens, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands at the time.
A photo of the ship released by the Ukrainian Navy showed scorch marks on one side of the hull.
“The Russian actions once again demonstrate a threat not only to Ukraine but now even to its closest partner countries whose ships are currently navigating in the Black Sea,” stated the Ukrainian Navy.
Since the invasion of Ukraine four years ago, Russia has frequently attacked civilian ships in the Odesa port area, which is a crucial maritime hub for Ukrainian agricultural exports.
The attack on Monday occurred just before Putin’s scheduled two-day visit to Beijing.
Ukrainian President Zelensky posted on social media, “Drones attacked Odesa, hitting a Chinese ship. Russia could not have been unaware of the presence of this ship at sea.”
Zelensky alleged that Russian forces deployed 524 drones and 22 missiles, including ballistic and cruise missiles, to attack Ukrainian territory.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy revealed that all crew members on the Chinese ship were unharmed, and the vessel continued its journey.
The spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, said, “The ship was in the process of loading cargo for the port when it was hit by a ‘Shahed’ drone at night. The crew managed the aftermath of the incident themselves. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the ship proceeded to its destination.”
According to Reuters, the “KSL Deyang” had no cargo on board at the time of the attack and was headed to load iron ore concentrate in the port of Pivdennyi in the Odesa region.
While Beijing has been calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine through dialogue, the Chinese government has neither condemned Russia’s deployment of troops to Ukraine in February 2022 nor taken a clear stance, identifying as neutral throughout the ongoing crisis.