Russia Hits Chinese Merchant Ship With Shahed Drone in Black Sea Ahead of Putin’s Visit

A Russian Shahed attack drone struck a Chinese merchant vessel in the Black Sea, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on May 18.

According to Pletenchuk, there were no immediate reports of casualties following the strike, and the vessel was able to continue moving after the attack.

“To deliberately strike a Chinese vessel with a Chinese crew ahead of a trip to China. What do you know about the Russian dictator’s ‘multi-step genius’? That is Moscow diplomacy,” Pletenchuk wrote.

The incident comes as Moscow continues to rely heavily on political and economic support from Beijing, presenting China as one of its most important international partners amid sanctions and growing isolation from the West. In addition, Putin’s visit to Beijing is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Russia is now importing more than 90% of its sanctioned technology through China, a sign of Moscow’s increasing reliance on Beijing to sustain its war effort in Ukraine.

This is not the first case of a deliberate Russian attack on a civilian vessel near Odesa. Earlier, a civilian bulk carrier flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis was struck by two Russian drones while navigating the Ukrainian maritime corridor en route to a port in Greater Odesa.

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