China secretly sent cargo ship to Russian-occupied Crimea — FT
Photo: Container ship Heng Yang 9 (flickr.com photos hgteng)
A Chinese cargo ship entered Russian-occupied Sevastopol, marking an unprecedented case of a foreign vessel entering a Ukrainian port seized by Russia. Ukraine has protested with Beijing and warned of possible sanctions, according to the Financial Times.
Western sanctions have prohibited the use of Sevastopol since 2014. Although China has not joined the sanctions, its commercial vessels have previously avoided Russian-occupied ports.
However, the Panamanian-flagged container ship Heng Yang 9, owned by Guangxi Changhai Shipping, has been spotted in Crimea at least three times in recent months.
Confirmation by satellite data
The Financial Times was able to confirm the latest visit in September using satellite and radar images, transponder data, and photographs. The ship left Istanbul on September 2 and was spotted in Novorossiysk on September 6.
Later, the transponder transmitted signals indicating its presence in the port of Kavkaz, but satellites did not detect it at that location on September 9 and 11. Images from September 14 showed the ship in Sevastopol.
Hidden routes
According to satellite data, the ship tried to conceal its movements by transmitting false coordinates. As a result, on September 17, it arrived in Istanbul with containers that matched the location of those recorded in Crimea.
The owner company, registered with the International Maritime Organization as the operator of two container ships and two bulk carriers, declined to comment.
Russia's new logistics
The ship's arrival coincided with the launch in April of a railway line to Crimea, which, according to Moscow, allows containers to be transported from Russia to the peninsula's ports. In August, the Russian authorities also opened Berdyansk and Mariupol to foreign ships.
Ukrainian officials believe that Russia uses this route to transport goods from the occupied areas of the Donetsk and Kherson regions. According to the President's office, the Heng Yang 9 called at Sevastopol on June 19-22 and then requested permission to load 101 containers on August 15.
Reaction from Ukraine and China
"Ukraine has made it clear that such actions are unacceptable and expects its international partners to strictly avoid contact with the occupied territories," said Vladislav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian President's representative on sanctions policy.
He noted that the Ukrainian embassy in China raised the issue of the ship's visit in June with the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "We have expressed our strong disagreement and will continue diplomatic monitoring. Ships that visit occupied ports risk being included in sanctions lists," Vlasiuk said.
According to him, the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded that citizens and companies are advised to avoid contact with the occupied territories of Ukraine. Beijing assured that each case would be considered separately.
Ship camouflage
European Sentinel satellites have repeatedly recorded discrepancies between the declared coordinates and the actual location of the ship. Lloyd's List analysis also confirmed route manipulation.
Crimean activists published photos showing the name on the stern of the Heng Yang 9 covered with a white cloth during one of the events. This indicates attempts to conceal the ship's presence in Crimean ports.
China is the main sponsor of Russia's war against Ukraine. According to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, without China's help, the aggressive war against Ukraine would have been impossible.
