Russia ‘attacks Chinese ship’ heading for Ukraine

Russia has attacked a Chinese-owned cargo ship that was headed for a Ukrainian port, a move which could anger one of Moscow’s most important allies in Beijing. The Russian drone struck the KSL DEYANG vessel flying under Marshall Islands flag off the coast of Ukraine early on Monday, a source told Reuters news agency. The vessel was did not contain cargo and was bound for Ukraine's Pivdennyi port in the Odesa region where it was to load iron ore concentrate. The vessel did not sustain significant damage, there were no casualties and the fire caused by the strike was extinguished by the crew, the source added. It comes after Russia faced one of its biggest attacks of the year as at least 3,124 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed in the past week, the country’s defence minister said this morning. The biggest onslaught on Russia was on 13 May and 17 May, with 572 and 1,054 drones downed respectively. Another four people were killed and a dozen were injured after a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia overnight, local officials said yesterday. Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks are “entirely justified” in a post on X. Russia faced one of its biggest attacks of the year as at least 3,124 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed in the past week, the country’s defence minister said this morning. The biggest onslaught on Russia was on 13 May and 17 May, with 572 and 1,054 drones downed respectively, it said, confirming the siege on the country. At least four people were killed, and a dozen were injured, after a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia overnight, local officials said yesterday. Three people were killed in a strike on the Moscow region, and a fourth was killed in the Belgorod region bordering northeastern Ukraine, local authorities said. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensk confirmed the attacks on social media site X, said, "Our ⁠responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and its attacks on our cities ​and communities ⁠are entirely justified," Zelenskiy said. Later on Sunday, Zelensky said that Ukraine's "long-range sanctions have reached the Moscow region", referring to the latest drone attack. "We are clearly telling the Russians: their state must end its war," he wrote in a post on Telegram. Full article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-live-drone-attack-putin-zelensky-b2978363.html Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@independent Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/the.independent/ X (Twitter) / https://twitter.com/Independent Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentOnline Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations