conflictMonday, May 18, 20264 sources

Russia Launches Drones and Missiles at Ukraine, Hitting Chinese-Linked and Other Ships Near Odesa

Russian forces launched hundreds of drones and nearly two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, striking two civilian vessels in the Black Sea near Odesa. The attack wounded over 30 people and included a ship under the Marshall Islands flag and another under the Guinea-Bissau flag, as well as a Chinese-linked cargo vessel. The assault occurred as Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to China.

Russia launched 524 drones and 22 missiles at Ukraine’s territory overnight, according to Al Jazeera. France 24 reported that two civilian vessels were hit, one flying the Marshall Islands flag and the other the Guinea-Bissau flag. The Kyiv Independent noted that a Russian drone struck a Chinese-linked cargo ship near Odesa, while The Straits Times confirmed the attack on a Chinese cargo vessel. Ukraine reported more than 30 people wounded in the strike. The exact flags of the ships were not specified by Al Jazeera and the Kyiv Independent, though France 24 and The Straits Times provided specific nationalities for the vessels.

Where Sources Diverge

Kyiv Independent and Al Jazeera did not specify the exact flags of the ships, while France 24 and Straits Times provided specific flags.

kyiv-independent

Russian drone hits Chinese-linked cargo ship near Odesa

al-jazeera

Ukraine says its territory is attacked overnight with 524 drones and 22 missiles.

france24

Two civilian vessels hit including one under the Marshall Islands flag and another under the Guinea-Bissau flag.

straits-times

Russian drones hit two ships including Chinese cargo vessel off Ukraine’s Black Sea coast

Timelines

Sources

IndependentAl JazeeraMay 18, 02:52 PM
Russian drone hits Chinese ship off Ukraine before Putin visits Xi Jinping

Ukraine says its territory is attacked overnight with 524 drones and 22 missiles.

IndependentKyiv IndependentMay 18, 02:48 PM
'A terrible mistake?' As Putin heads to China, Russian drone hits Chinese-linked cargo ship near Odesa - The Kyiv Independent

'A terrible mistake?' As Putin heads to China, Russian drone hits Chinese-linked cargo ship near Odesa  The Kyiv Independent

IndependentStraits TimesMay 18, 02:20 PM
Russian drones hit two ships including Chinese cargo vessel off Ukraine’s Black Sea coast - The Straits Times

Russian drones hit two ships including Chinese cargo vessel off Ukraine’s Black Sea coast  The Straits Times

PublicFrance 24May 18, 01:49 PM
Russian drones hit two ships off Ukraine's coast, including Chinese-owned vessel

Russia launched hundreds of drones and nearly two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, hitting ​two ships in the Black Sea near Ukraine's Odesa region and wounding more than 30 people. Ukrainian authorities said that the two civilian vessels hit included one ‌under the Marshall Islands flag and another under the Guinea-Bissau flag.