Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the capture of two Chinese nationals who were reportedly fighting for the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that intelligence suggests the actual number of Chinese soldiers within Russian ranks could be “much higher than two.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reacted strongly, asserting that the presence of Chinese troops on Ukrainian territory “puts into question China’s declared stance for peace” and confirmed that China’s envoy in Kyiv has been summoned to provide an explanation.
This marks the first official accusation from Ukraine alleging that China is supplying Russia with manpower for its ongoing war. As of now, there has been no immediate response to these claims from either Moscow or Beijing.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, President Zelenskyy reported that the soldiers were apprehended in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and were found to be in possession of identification documents, including bank cards containing “personal data.” He specified that Ukrainian forces engaged six Chinese soldiers, resulting in the capture of two.
The social media post included a video purportedly showing one of the captured individuals in handcuffs, speaking Mandarin Chinese and seemingly recounting a recent battle.
“We have information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two,” Zelenskyy stated.
He further emphasized the broader implications, saying, “Russia’s involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war.”
Zelenskyy called for a decisive response “from the United States, Europe, and all those around the world who want peace” in light of these developments.
He also noted that an investigation is currently underway, and the captured individuals are in the custody of Ukraine’s security service.
Foreign Minister Sybiha elaborated on the diplomatic response, stating that he had summoned China’s chargé d’affaires in Kyiv to “demand an explanation” regarding the captured soldiers.
In his own post on X, Andrii Sybiha wrote: “We strongly condemn Russia’s involvement of Chinese citizens in its war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as their participation in combat against Ukrainian forces.”
He further articulated the potential damage to China’s international standing: “Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
Previously, French newspaper Le Monde reported identifying approximately 40 accounts on Douyin, TikTok’s sister app available in China, belonging to Chinese individuals claiming to have enlisted in the Russian army.
Kyiv and Western officials have also reported that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine. During a press conference on Tuesday, President Zelenskyy stated, “North Koreans fought against us on the front in Kursk, the Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine.” In January, Ukraine announced the capture of two injured North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
While Beijing and Moscow maintain close political and economic ties, China has consistently portrayed itself as a neutral party in the conflict and has repeatedly denied providing Russia with military assistance.
One of Russia’s key advantages in the war has been its numerical superiority, with reports indicating the use of “meat grinder” tactics involving deploying large numbers of soldiers to incrementally advance their positions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, primarily in the east.
