Merchant Ships Hit in Russian Drone Attack at Odessa

Two commercial vessels, including a Chinese-owned ship, were struck by Russian drones while approaching ports in Ukraine’s Odessa region on Monday, May 18. No injuries were reported.

Ukrainian officials said the vessels were targeted during an overnight drone assault carried out by Russian forces in the Odessa area.

Both ships involved were merchant vessels. One sailing under the flag of Guinea-Bissau, while the second was identified as the Marshall Islands-flagged KSL Deyang. Ukrainian authorities stated that the KSL Deyang is a Chinese-owned bulk carrier and operated with a Chinese crew.

Neither vessel was carrying cargo at the time of the attack. Authorities said the ships avoided major structural damage, and crew members were able to extinguish the fire that broke out following the strike.