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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused China of turning a blind eye to Russia’s recruitment of Chinese nationals to fight in Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, 155 Chinese recruits have already been deployed to the battlefield, with more expected to follow soon. This revelation has raised questions about China’s claimed neutrality in the conflict and could potentially strain relations between China and western governments.
Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukrainian intelligence had identified 155 Chinese nationals who had signed contracts with Russia’s armed forces to participate in the conflict. He expressed belief that the actual number of Chinese recruits is much higher than what has been confirmed. Despite Beijing’s denial of any involvement in armed conflict, Zelenskyy insisted that Chinese leadership was aware of Russia’s recruitment efforts and had taken no action to prevent it.
The Chinese recruits, as detailed in Russian military documents obtained by Ukrainian intelligence, range in age from 19 to 56 years old. They have been trained for various roles such as riflemen, snipers, gunners, and reconnaissance soldiers, with some attached to drone units. Zelenskyy also revealed that two Chinese fighters were captured by Ukrainian forces this week in the Donetsk region, where Russian troops have intensified their offensive.
In response to these developments, the US State Department expressed concern over China’s alleged involvement in the conflict, labeling Beijing as a major enabler of Russia’s war effort. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha summoned China’s chargé d’affaires in Kyiv to seek clarification on the matter, emphasizing the importance of trust in Beijing as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
While the Kremlin declined to comment on the issue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China is verifying the information with Ukrainian authorities. Lin refuted claims that many Chinese citizens were fighting for Russia and emphasized China’s efforts towards a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
Apart from Chinese involvement, reports suggest that Iran has supplied military equipment to Russia and North Korea has dispatched soldiers to support Russian forces. It is estimated that around 5,000 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded in fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. Additionally, Moscow has recruited mercenaries from Cuba, India, Yemen, and other nations.
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Additional reporting by Wenjie Ding in Beijing
