Russian Drone Strikes Chinese Cargo Ship in Black Sea

A Russian drone struck a Chinese-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea overnight, Ukraine said Monday. The KSL Deyang, flagged in the Marshall Islands and carrying a Chinese crew, came under attack near the Odessa region. The vessel sustained minimal damage and its crew extinguished a small fire.

Ukrainian officials reported no injuries among the crew.

The ship continued operations after the incident. A Ukrainian Navy spokesperson said the attack marked a new development in the conflict zone. The spokesperson questioned the decision to target the merchant vessel.

Zelenskyy confirmed the strike occurred. He stated that the operators could not have been unaware of the vessel's identity. The Ukrainian Navy said the incident shows attacks now pose risks even to vessels linked to close partners. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of a 2001 treaty between the two countries.

Moscow has increased trade ties with Beijing after Western restrictions followed the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.