A significant incident occurred in the Black Sea, where Russian drones reportedly struck two vessels approaching Ukrainian ports, one of which was identified as a Chinese-owned ship. This event took place just a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled visit to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
According to Ukraine’s seaports authority, the strikes on Monday affected two civilian ships, one sailing under the Marshall Islands flag and the other under Guinea-Bissau’s flag. Both were en route to ports in the Odesa region. The Ukrainian navy specifically reported a strike on the KSL Deyang, a Chinese-owned cargo ship with a Chinese crew, operating under the Marshall Islands flag. A photograph released by the navy showed the ship with a partially charred side.
This incident is set against the backdrop of ongoing maritime activity in the Odesa port area, a crucial hub for Ukrainian agricultural exports, which has seen various incidents since the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine four years prior. The timing of Monday’s strike, preceding President Putin’s two-day visit to Beijing for high-level discussions with President Xi, adds a layer of geopolitical significance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the incident via social media, stating, “Drones struck Odesa and one of the UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] hit a vessel owned by China.” He further suggested, “The Russians could not have been unaware of what vessel was at sea.” Russia has not yet issued an immediate comment on the matter.
A spokesman for Ukraine’s navy informed AFP that the Chinese crew members were unharmed, and the vessel continued its journey. A Reuters source indicated that the KSL Deyang was without cargo at the time, heading to load iron ore concentrate at Ukraine’s Pivdennyi port in Odesa. Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk confirmed, “The ship was entering for loading. After it was hit at night by a Shahed, the crew coped with the consequences on their own. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the vessel continued on its way to its port of destination.”
President Zelenskyy also reported extensive overnight attacks on Ukrainian territory, involving 524 drones and 22 missiles, including ballistic and cruise missiles.
China has consistently advocated for diplomatic resolutions to the conflict in Ukraine. While maintaining a stance of neutrality and refraining from condemning Russia’s actions in February 2022, Beijing continues to emphasize the importance of dialogue for peace.
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