A Russian drone strike has hit a civilian merchant vessel carrying Chinese nationals in the Black Sea, according to statements from Ukrainian military officials.
Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk reported on Facebook that a Shahed-type drone was used in the overnight attack. He questioned the intent behind the strike, stating in a quoted remark: “It is unclear what the Russians were thinking when they struck a Chinese merchant vessel in our sea last night with a Shahed drone.”
Authorities later confirmed that the vessel is the KSL DEYANG. It is owned by a company registered in North Korea, sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands, and has a Chinese crew. At the time of the incident, it was operating in waters near the coast of Odesa Oblast.
Officials said there were no casualties reported as a result of the strike. The ship was sailing through the maritime corridor toward ports in the Greater Odesa area, a key logistical hub for Ukrainian exports in the Black Sea region.
The incident comes amid a series of recent attacks on civilian maritime traffic. Earlier reports from Ukrainian authorities noted that other vessels have also been struck or damaged during drone and missile strikes targeting port infrastructure and shipping routes.
