China Silent After Russia Strikes Its Ship as Putin Arrives in Beijing

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a two-day summit with Xi Jinping. The timing is notable: less than 24 hours before his arrival, Russian Shahed drones struck two civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea — including one owned by a Chinese company and crewed entirely by Chinese nationals.

Beijing issued no statement on the attack.

The Ship and the Attack

The vessel was the KSL Deyang, a bulk carrier flying a Marshall Islands flag, Chinese-owned with a Chinese crew. According to Reuters, it was sailing empty toward Ukraine's Pivdennyi port in the Odesa region to load iron ore concentrate.

A Russian Shahed drone hit it overnight on May 18. A fire broke out on board. The crew extinguished it. No injuries were reported. The ship continued to port.

A second vessel — flying a Guinea-Bissau flag — was also struck in the same attack, according to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper. The crew put out a small fire and the ship continued to port.

Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk commented on the strike in a Facebook post: "It is interesting what motivated the Russians when they decided tonight to hit a Chinese commercial vessel in our sea with a Shahed drone," he wrote. "Was it a 'terrible mistake,' comrades?"

The Larger Campaign

The strikes on the cargo ships were part of a broader Russian attack. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia launched 524 drones and 22 missiles at Ukraine overnight — ballistic and cruise missiles both.

The Russian Defense Ministry characterized the barrage as retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes over the weekend. Ukraine had sent approximately 130 drones at Moscow, killing at least three people, injuring dozens, hitting a refinery, and damaging a major regional airport, according to ZeroHedge.

Odesa bore the brunt of the Russian response. Russian drones struck residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten, per Ukrainian officials cited by ZeroHedge. At least one person was killed, more than 30 injured. An 11-year-old child was among the wounded, according to the Kyiv Independent.

A single-story house in Odesa's Prymorskyi district was completely destroyed.

The Summit Agenda

Putin's delegation for the Beijing visit includes deputy prime ministers, government ministers, and company heads, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday. Russia has "very serious expectations" for the trip, Peskov said.

One of the main agenda items: the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would deliver an additional 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia's Arctic fields through Mongolia into China, according to The Independent. For a Russia facing Western sanctions, the pipeline represents a major economic lifeline.

The summit comes four days after Donald Trump left Beijing following his own high-stakes meetings with Xi. Putin and Xi exchanged "congratulatory letters" on Sunday to set the tone — hours before Russia's drones hit Chinese nationals at sea.

China's Response

Most outlets are characterizing the drone strike on a Chinese-owned vessel as an awkward diplomatic moment that could strain the Russia-China relationship.

China has issued no condemnation, no statement, and has not summoned a Russian ambassador.

The Kyiv Independent noted that "China has remained crucial to Russia's war economy, continuing to buy Russian oil and supply dual-use goods used by the Russian military despite officially claiming neutrality."

China calls itself a neutral party in the Ukraine war. It purchases Russian oil and supplies dual-use goods that end up in Russian weapons systems. It provides Moscow the economic cushion that sustains the war effort.

Putin struck his closest partner's ship the night before flying to meet him. Xi hosted him the following day without public protest. The economic calculations surrounding the pipeline deal appear to take precedence over symbolic concerns.