Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian drones attacked two ships approaching ports in Ukraine's Odesa region in the Black Sea on Monday, including a Chinese cargo vessel. This was after a night-long Russian attack on the area.

The Ukraine's Seaports Authority said that two civilian ships were hit, one flying the Marshall Islands flag and the other the Guinea-Bissau, both heading for ports in the region.

The Ukrainian navy has reported an attack on the 'Ksl Deyang', which they described as a Chinese cargo ship with Chinese crew sailing under the Marshall Islands flag. The Ukrainian navy posted a picture of the'ship, showing its name and one side partially charred.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian president, said on X a Russian drone hit a vessel belonging to China. Ukraine officials claimed that Russia attacked nearby Ukrainian Black Sea Port Odesa using drones overnight.

Sources claim that the Deyang had no cargo on board when the attack occurred early Monday morning. It was en route to Ukraine's Pivdennyi Port in the Odesa Region, where it would have loaded iron ore concentrate.

Source: The crew extinguished the fire that was caused by the strike.

Russia has targeted the maritime export routes repeatedly more than four years after its invasion in Ukraine, striking vital ports for foreign trade and wartime economies. (Reporting and editing by Alex Richardson; Yuliia Dyesa, Anna Pruchnicka)

(source: Reuters)