Russian Drone Reportedly Hits Chinese-Owned Cargo Ship Ahead of Putin-Xi Meeting

(Central News Agency, Kyiv, 18th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) On the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ukraine said today that a Russian drone hit a Chinese-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea overnight.

According to an AFP report, the attack occurred as Putin was about to embark on a two-day visit to Beijing, where he is expected to further deepen the friendly relations between the two countries with Xi Jinping.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a social media post: "A drone attack on Odesa... one of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) hit a Chinese-owned vessel."

Zelenskyy said, "It's impossible that Russia did not know which ship was at sea."

A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy told AFP that all crew members on board were Chinese citizens, there were no injuries, and the Chinese-owned ship continued its voyage afterward.

The Ukrainian Navy identified the cargo ship as "KSL Deyang" and released photos showing a portion of the ship's upper deck apparently blackened after being hit. (Compiled by: Chen Cheng-chien) 1150518