Russian Drone Hits Chinese-Owned Cargo Ship in the Black Sea
On May 18, 2026, a Russian drone struck the Ksl Deyang, a Chinese-owned cargo ship sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, near Ukraine's Odesa ports. The vessel was en route to load iron ore at Pivdennyi port. While the ship sustained damage and a fire broke out, it reportedly continued its journey after the crew extinguished the flames. Separate incidents also saw vessels flagged in Guinea-Bissau and Panama targeted, highlighting escalating risks to international maritime commerce.
Date: May 18, 2026
Location: Ukraine
Conflict: Russia-Ukraine War
Category: naval
Severity: HIGH
Source: The Guardian