The Chinese cargo ship Heng Yang 9, owned by Guangxi Changhai, has repeatedly entered the annexed Crimea in recent months. According to Ukrainian officials, the vessel was spotted in Sevastopol port at least three times during the summer and early autumn of 2025.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Details of the Incident Involving the Chinese Ship’s Entry into Crimea
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Heng Yang 9 made at least two visits to Sevastopol this summer. The first time the ship was in port from June 19 to June 22, and the second time it requested permission to enter on August 15 for loading. After these visits, it headed to ports in Turkey and subsequently to Egypt.
In September, the ship was in the Black Sea and attempted to conceal its routes: according to transponder data, it was heading to the Russian port of Kavkaz, but in reality, it ended up in Sevastopol. Journalists were able to confirm this route through satellite images.
Ukraine’s Response and China’s Position
According to sanctions imposed by Western countries following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the use of Sevastopol port is prohibited for international companies. Although China has not officially joined the sanctions against Russia, Chinese commercial vessels have previously avoided Crimean ports.
“We have expressed our strong disapproval regarding this incident,” said Vladislav Vasyuk, the President of Ukraine’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy.
According to Vasyuk, the Ukrainian embassy in China discussed the situation with representatives of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. In response, the Chinese foreign affairs office advised its citizens and companies to refrain from contacts with the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The Office of the President of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are currently refraining from public comments regarding the entry of the Chinese ship into the Crimean port.