Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine on July 19 damaged the Chinese consulate building in the port city of Odesa and the port itself, which had a million tons of grain to be shipped to Asia and Africa, including about 60,000 tons to China.
The Chinese communist regime hasn't condemned Russia for the attacks.
Russia launched attacks on the southern Ukraine Black Sea port city and other Ukrainian ports for four nights in a row starting on July 18.
“As a result of the Russian night attack, the building of the consulate general of the People’s Republic of China in Odesa was damaged." Oleg Kiper, head of Odesa's regional military administration, wrote in a social media post. "The aggressor deliberately hits the port infrastructure—administrative and residential buildings nearby, as well as the consulate of the People’s Republic of China, were damaged. This suggests that the enemy does not pay attention to anything.”
The Ukrainian military stated that Russia had launched 63 missiles and drones at various targets across the country, of which 37 had been shot down.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated on July 20 that the overnight attacks on Odesa were part of ongoing retaliation for Ukraine's attack on a bridge in Crimea, which Kyiv stated is a legitimate target as a major Russian military supply route; Kyiv claims that Russian forces were targeting facilities linked to Ukrainian maritime attack drones.
The strikes have hit civilian facilities, including a dormitory building, a courthouse, a wholesale market, and a storage facility in the Odesa port, according to various media reports.
CCP Refuses to Condemn Russia
On July 21, Mao Ning, the spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, told reporters that China will continue to maintain communication with relevant parties and take all necessary measures to safeguard the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Ukraine.
A Reuters reporter asked, “Will China take the same approach if the Chinese embassies and consulates abroad are damaged in similar attacks in the future?”
Ms. Mao replied by repeating that China will “maintain communication with relevant parties, and will take all necessary measures to maintain the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Ukraine and anywhere in the world,” adding that China’s position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent and clear and that China will continue to promote a political solution to the crisis.
When NATO missiles hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1999, which the United States stated was a tragic accident, the Chinese communist regime issued a strong condemnation.
60,000 Tons of Grain to China Destroyed
Ukraine's agriculture ministry said on July 19 that Russian missiles and drones had attacked the port of Odesa overnight, damaging infrastructure at the port that is part of the U.N. Black Sea Grains Initiative.Just before the attacks on Odesa, Russia withdrew from the deal, which had allowed safe passage of Ukrainian food exports.
Ukraine officials said that Russia’s attack on Odesa’s grain facilities was an effort by Moscow to hurt a major Ukrainian export, even if doing so contributes to global grain shortages.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the attacks on the grain infrastructure showed that Russia’s target isn't only Ukraine and Ukraine's people.
“About a million tons of food is stored in the ports that were attacked today. This is the volume that should have been delivered to consumer countries in Africa and Asia long ago,” he said. “Everyone is affected by this Russian terror.”
Mr. Zelenskyy also said that about 60,000 tons of agricultural products destroyed by the Russian missile strikes on Odesa were destined for China.
China is a major importer of Ukraine’s grains and a main beneficiary of the Black Sea grain deal.
On July 20, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Russia's attacks on the Odesa port facilities and other Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, emphasizing that damage to civilian infrastructure could violate international humanitarian law.
