Ukraine on Tuesday slammed repeated visits by a Chinese cargo ship to the port of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea despite Western sanctions on vessels docking in the peninsula.

The Financial Times newspaper had first reported that the Heng Yang 9, owned by the Guangxi Changhai Shipping Company, has docked in Sevastopol at least thrice this year, citing satellite data.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry strongly condemned the visits, calling them "a gross violation of international law and Ukrainian legislation."

The Panama-flagged ship has "deliberately concealed its movements by transmitting false data about its route," the ministry added.

Western sanctions, imposed almost a decade ago when Russia annexed Crimea, bar ships from docking in the Black Sea peninsula's ports.

China, the

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