Russia attacks Chinese ship in Ukrainian territorial waters, Navy says
File photo: Russia attacked a Chinese vessel in Ukrainian territorial waters (Getty Images)
On the night of May 18, Russian forces attacked a Chinese merchant ship that was in Ukrainian territorial waters, according to Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy.
According to Pletenchuk, the Russian troops struck with a Shahed-type drone.
"It’s interesting what motivated the Russians when they decided to target a Chinese merchant ship in our waters with a Shahed last night," the Navy spokesperson notes.
He clarifies that no one was injured as a result of the Russian strike.
"There were no casualties, but this is something new," Pletenchuk emphasizes.
He also comments ironically on the incident, adding, "A monstrous mistake has occurred, comrades?"
Russian attacks on ports
Russian forces regularly attack civilian ships operating in the Black Sea and heading to Ukrainian ports.
For instance, on the morning of May 5, the Russians launched a drone strike on the port of Odesa. As a result of the attack, a civilian foreign vessel flying the flag of the Cook Islands was damaged.
Earlier, during one of the nighttime attacks in the Black Sea, Russian strike drones struck a bulk carrier heading to one of the ports in the Greater Odesa area.
Before that, the Russians also attacked the port infrastructure in the Odesa region. At that time, a civilian vessel flying the Liberian flag was struck; it was traveling through the Ukrainian maritime corridor to one of the ports of Greater Odesa to load corn.
During an air raid alert, a Russian drone struck the vessel, causing damage.
In addition, a Russian drone had previously struck a foreign vessel as it was leaving the port of Chornomorsk in the Odesa region. Crew members were injured in that incident.
