On the night of 18 May, Russian forces attacked a Chinese commercial vessel operating in Ukraine’s territorial waters, according to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk. Russia used a Shahed-type kamikaze drone in the strike.
New escalation in the Black Sea
According to Pletenchuk, the attack took place inside Ukrainian territorial waters.
“It’s interesting what motivated the Russians when they decided tonight to hit a Chinese commercial vessel in our sea with a Shahed drone,” he said.
The vessel sustained damage, but there were no casualties among the crew.
“It ended without victims, but this is something new,” Pletenchuk added.
“Monstrous mistake?”
The Ukrainian Navy spokesperson also reacted sarcastically to the incident, saying:
“Did a monstrous mistake occur, comrades?” he asked.
The Ukrainian Navy noted that this is another example of Russian attacks targeting civilian vessels operating in the Black Sea or heading toward Ukrainian ports.
Russia continues targeting civilian shipping
On 5 May, Russian drones also struck the Port of Odesa, damaging a foreign civilian vessel flying the Cook Islands flag.
Earlier, Russian attack drones targeted a bulk carrier heading toward one of Greater Odesa’s ports.
Ukraine says Russia is continuing a pressure campaign against civilian shipping in the Black Sea in an effort to disrupt Ukraine’s maritime logistics and create additional risks for international carriers.
Chinese help in Russia's war against Ukraine
Chinese companies are reportedly supplying Russia with components for combat drones despite international sanctions and Beijing’s claims of “neutrality.”
According to a report by The Telegraph, Chinese firms transferred at least $61 million worth of parts to sanctioned Russian companies during 2023–2024.
Journalists found that nearly a quarter of these supplies went to sanctioned Russian firms linked to the production of Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones operating in the Alabuga special economic zone in Russia.
