Ukrainian authorities reported on Monday that a Russian drone struck a Chinese-owned cargo ship, the Ksl Deyang, as part of a series of attacks on civilian vessels approaching Ukraine's Odesa ports in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian navy identified the Ksl Deyang as a Chinese-owned cargo ship operated by a Chinese crew and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag. The vessel was heading to load iron ore concentrate at Ukraine's Pivdennyi port in the Odesa region, according to a Reuters report citing a source.
Zelenskyy Confirms Attack on Chinese Ship
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a Russian drone hit the Chinese-owned vessel. The ship reportedly continued sailing after the attack. Ukraine's seaports authority noted that another ship sailing under the Guinea-Bissau flag was also hit. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper separately reported that a Russian attack struck a Panama-flagged civilian vessel heading to Ukraine's Chornomorsk port. No injuries were reported, as crews extinguished the resulting fires and the vessels continued on their routes.
Russian Grain Exports from Crimea
Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine's observations of Russian attempts to export grain from occupied Crimea, involving US companies. He said, "In particular, we have recorded attempts to organise the export of grain from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea – and, regrettably, other forms of economic exploitation of the peninsula involving entities from the United States." He added that Moscow was seeking investment from "democratic countries" in Russia's Arctic oil and gas projects.
Belarus Nuclear Drills Condemned
Ukraine's foreign ministry condemned tactical nuclear weapons drills in Belarus on Monday, calling the deployment an "unprecedented challenge" to global security. The ministry stated, "By turning Belarus into its nuclear staging ground near Nato borders, the Kremlin is de facto legitimising the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide and setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes." Kyiv urged its Western allies to tighten sanctions against both Moscow and Minsk.
Estonian Intelligence: Putin Has Few Options
Estonia's foreign intelligence chief, Kaupo Rosin, told Reuters that Vladimir Putin has few good options in Ukraine, with Russian armed forces unable to advance significantly on the battlefield and Western sanctions eroding resources. Rosin noted that Russia is losing more soldiers than it recruits, and a general mobilisation would be deeply unpopular, potentially destabilising the regime. He said, "All these factors together are creating a situation where some people in Russia including in the higher levels understand that they have a big problem. Hard to say what Putin thinks about it, but I think all these factors are starting to float into his decision-making … My message is let’s push forward with [sanctions]. This is not the time to hesitate, just let’s keep going."
Another European intelligence chief, speaking anonymously, acknowledged growing pressure on Russia but no change in Moscow's war calculus. He said, "It’s very difficult for me to see that they [Russia] would get rid of their objective to get the whole Donbas area … and Russia is in no hurry, basically." He described Russian society as resilient, calling it "wishful thinking that now Russia’s leadership is in some way eroding, or Putin is somehow challenged [domestically]."
US Sanctions Waiver Criticised
Democratic senators condemned the Trump administration's 30-day waiver on sanctions against Russian oil as an "indefensible gift" to Putin. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren stated, "Every additional dollar the Kremlin earns from this licence helps Putin finance his illegal war against Ukraine and kill innocent Ukrainians." British and European sanctions on Russian oil remain in place. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed the waiver, which allows purchases of Russian oil already at sea as of April 17, would "help stabilise the physical crude market and ensure oil reaches the most energy-vulnerable countries." Analysts argued the waiver might assist countries affected by Trump's Iran policy but would not lower US gasoline prices or stabilise global markets, as Democrats noted.
Russian Drone Strikes on Ukrainian Infrastructure
Russian drones struck critical infrastructure of Ukraine's energy firm Naftogaz in the Dnipropetrovsk region overnight Sunday, the company reported. A filling station was hit, with its premises and equipment completely destroyed and two employees injured. The Ukrainian air force stated that Russia launched 524 drones and 22 missiles at Ukraine on Monday, with air defence units neutralising 503 drones and four missiles. In Russia, drones were downed over Rostov and Belgorod regions, according to Interfax. Two people were killed in Belgorod, local authorities said.
In Lithuania, police announced that explosives found near the debris of a suspected Ukrainian military drone would be disposed of by detonation. The drone, found crashed in the village of Samane, was presumed to have gone off-course en route to a Russian target. Authorities had previously stated the drone was not armed.
