在烏克蘭的敖德薩（Odessa），儘管戰爭仍在持續，但仍有超過一千名中國人生活並經營自己的公司，他們主要集中在著名的第七公里市場（The Seventh-Kilometer Market，烏克蘭語：Ринок «Сьомий кілометр»），從事進出口貿易與批發零售業務。這個市場是烏克蘭最大的批發集散地之一，也是東歐地區極具規模的商業中心，涵蓋服裝、電子產品、日用品、食品等多個行業，具有龐大的客流量與商機。

許多中國商人在當地做生意，有幾個主要原因。首先，商業機會與利潤空間巨大。第七公里市場作為區域性的貿易樞紐，能夠提供穩定的客源和跨境貿易渠道，中國商人憑藉自身的商品供應鏈和價格優勢，能夠在市場中占據競爭優勢，即使戰爭帶來不確定性，對部分經營者而言，潛在收益仍然吸引人。

其次，已有的商業網絡與社群支撐。許多中國商人在敖德薩及第七公里市場已經經營多年，建立成熟的物流、進出口渠道以及供應商網絡。這種人脈和經驗使他們能夠更好地應對戰爭帶來的挑戰，如物資運輸中斷、貨幣波動及安全風險。對他們而言，放棄現有的業務可能意味著長期投資的損失，因此許多人選擇堅守。

再者，相對風險可控與生活習慣也是原因之一。雖然烏克蘭部分地區仍受戰爭影響，但敖德薩相對於前線城市而言安全程度更高，加上中國商人在當地已經習慣生活方式和文化環境，使他們能夠在危險與生計之間做出權衡。

此外，文化心理因素與責任感也不可忽視。部分商人表示，他們希望維持公司運營、支持當地員工生計，同時也希望保持與烏克蘭市場的聯繫，以便戰爭結束後能迅速恢復正常貿易。對他們來說，這不僅是一份工作，更是一種對自身企業和家庭的責任感。

綜合來看，即便在戰爭背景下，許多中國人在敖德薩第七公里市場堅守經營，不僅因為商業利潤與成熟網絡的吸引，也因為他們對自身企業和員工的責任感，以及對生活環境的適應能力。這種現象反映在全球政治與戰爭環境下，中國民營商人的靈活性、韌性與冒險精神，也展現出跨國小型商業網絡在不穩定環境中的生存智慧。

In Odessa, Ukraine, despite the ongoing war, more than 1,000 Chinese nationals continue to live and operate their own businesses, primarily concentrated in the Seventh-Kilometer Market (Ukrainian: Ринок «Сьомий кілометр», Rynok Siomyi Kilometr). This market is one of Ukraine’s largest wholesale hubs and a major commercial center in Eastern Europe, covering sectors such as clothing, electronics, daily necessities, and food. It attracts large customer flows and provides extensive trade opportunities.

There are several key reasons why many Chinese continue to do business there even amid conflict. First, the profit potential and business opportunities remain significant. As a regional trade hub, the Seventh-Kilometer Market provides stable customer access and cross-border trade channels. Chinese merchants leverage their supply chains and pricing advantages to maintain a competitive edge, and despite the uncertainties of war, the potential returns remain attractive.

Second, many merchants benefit from established networks and community support. Numerous Chinese businesspeople have been operating in Odessa and the market for years, building mature logistics, import-export channels, and supplier networks. These relationships and experience allow them to better cope with challenges posed by war, such as disruptions in transportation, currency fluctuations, and safety risks. Abandoning their businesses would mean losing long-term investments, which explains why many choose to stay.

Third, relative safety and familiarity with local life also play a role. Although parts of Ukraine remain affected by conflict, Odessa is relatively safer compared to front-line cities. Additionally, Chinese merchants are accustomed to the local culture and living conditions, enabling them to balance risks and livelihood effectively.

Lastly, cultural and personal responsibility factors contribute as well. Some merchants feel a sense of duty to maintain operations, support local employees, and preserve connections with the Ukrainian market, so that business can quickly resume after the war. For them, operating the business is not just about profit—it is also about responsibility to their companies and families.

In summary, the continued presence of Chinese entrepreneurs in Odessa’s Seventh-Kilometer Market during wartime is driven by a combination of commercial opportunities, established networks, adaptability, and a sense of responsibility. This phenomenon reflects the resilience, flexibility, and entrepreneurial spirit of Chinese small business owners in unstable environments, as well as the survival strategies of transnational small-scale trade networks amid geopolitical uncertainty.