A Chinese cargo ship was hit by a kamikaze Shahed drone during a Russian attack in the Black Sea, according to information released by the Ukrainian Navy.
Despite the impact, there were no reports of deaths or injuries, and the vessel was able to continue its journey after the incident.
According to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the episode adds to a series of attacks against civilian ships operating in the region. The Black Sea has frequently been the scene of military activity involving port infrastructure and maritime export routes.
In late April 2026, a Russian drone also struck a cargo ship flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis while the vessel was heading to ports in the Odesa region to load grain. The attack caused a fire on board, but the crew managed to bring the flames under control without further consequences.
Another similar case occurred on April 14, when Russian forces attacked a Liberian-flagged civilian ship that was sailing toward the port of Odesa. That same night, the port of Izmail was also hit, resulting in damage to a vessel registered in Panama.
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🇨🇳 In the morning a Russian strike drone hit the dry cargo ship KSL Deyang, which was in the sea near the Odesa region.
The ship flies the flag of the Marshall Islands, but belongs to the Chinese company KSL, and its crew consists of Chinese citizens.
The Russian drone also hit… pic.twitter.com/jJYdirNHl8
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) May 18, 2026
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @Maks_NAFO_FELLA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
