Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian drone struck a Chinese-owned vessel during overnight attacks on Odesa, adding fresh geopolitical tension ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned visit to China.
In a statement posted on X, Zelenskyy said Russian forces carried out attacks on Dnipro and nearby areas for more than six hours. According to the Ukrainian president, the strikes targeted energy infrastructure and residential buildings across the region.
He also said drones attacked Odesa, where one unmanned aerial vehicle hit a vessel owned by China operating near the port area.
Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces “could not have been unaware” of the vessel’s identity during the attack. No further details were released regarding the ship’s ownership structure, cargo, or the scale of the damage.
The Ukrainian president again called for stronger air defense support, urging European countries to develop independent anti-ballistic capabilities while increasing military assistance to Ukraine.
The incident came shortly before Putin’s expected state visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese officials said the two leaders exchanged congratulatory messages related to the 10th China-Russia Expo ahead of the visit.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing and Moscow would continue expanding bilateral cooperation and coordination on international and regional issues. Putin’s upcoming trip will mark his 25th visit to China.
The visit also follows recent diplomatic engagement between China and the United States after US President Donald Trump completed a visit to Beijing for discussions with Xi.
Putin’s trip takes place amid heightened geopolitical pressure linked to the Middle East conflict and concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
