China Asks Ukraine Not to Strike Vladivostok During Forum

China asked Ukraine not to attack Vladivostok while a senior Chinese delegation attended an economic forum in the Russian Far East, and Kyiv reportedly agreed, Kyodo News reported on Monday, Sept. 7.

According to Kyodo News, citing sources familiar with the matter, Beijing made the request to ensure the safety of a delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.

Ding, ranked sixth in the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, attended the four-day Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok alongside Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

The report did not cite public confirmation from either the Chinese or Ukrainian government. It also provided no evidence that Ukraine had been preparing an attack on Vladivostok.

Kyodo reported that Kyiv may have accepted Beijing’s request in the hope that China could become involved in future efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

China remains one of Russia’s largest buyers of crude oil, providing Moscow with revenues that help sustain its full-scale invasion.

During his meeting with Putin, Ding said the prospects for expanding Chinese-Russian cooperation in the Far East were “broad and promising,” according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, as reported by Reuters.

Fears of a long-range Ukrainian operation

Vladivostok lies more than 6,500 kilometers (4,039 miles) from Ukraine, placing it far beyond the normal operational range of most Ukrainian attack drones.

However, Kyodo suggested that Beijing could have feared an operation resembling Ukraine’s “Spiderweb” attack in June 2025.

During that operation, Ukraine’s Security Service smuggled more than 100 drones deep into Russian territory and launched them from concealed mobile platforms near remote military airfields.

Ukraine has also intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots, and logistics facilities as part of an effort to weaken Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain the war.

Kyiv generally does not announce planned attacks or publicly disclose potential targets in advance.

Tight security around Putin in Vladivostok

Security measures were visibly reinforced during Putin’s visit to the forum.

Media footage showed a pickup truck equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun traveling as part of the Russian president’s motorcade in Vladivostok.

The unusual escort came amid Ukraine’s expanding drone operations inside Russia and concerns that small unmanned aircraft could bypass conventional security measures.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral were also among the foreign officials attending the economic forum.