On Wednesday, Ukraine expanded its claims that a significant number of Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia’s invading forces, stating that it had gathered detailed intelligence on over 150 mercenaries allegedly recruited by Moscow through social media. Officials in China dismissed the allegations as “totally unfounded.”
The accusation from Ukraine and China’s denial come at a time when the US is working to negotiate a ceasefire in the war, which has lasted more than three years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the claim on Tuesday, announcing that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese nationals who had been fighting alongside Russian forces on Ukrainian soil. It marked the first time Ukraine had made such an assertion regarding Chinese fighters in the war.
On Wednesday, Zelensky stated he was open to exchanging the two prisoners of war for Ukrainian soldiers held captive in Russia. Without presenting evidence, he claimed that Beijing was aware of Russia’s recruitment of Chinese mercenaries but stopped short of stating that the Chinese government had authorized their involvement in the war.
Zelensky further said that Ukraine possesses last names and passport data for 155 Chinese citizens serving in the Russian army, adding, “we believe that there are many more of them.” He provided journalists with documents listing the names, passport numbers, and personal details of the alleged Chinese recruits, including their arrival dates in Russia for military training and their subsequent deployments. The Associated Press has not independently verified these documents.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, China has strongly supported Russia diplomatically. Western officials also accuse China of selling Russia machinery and microelectronics that can be used to manufacture weapons, as well as providing an economic lifeline through trade in energy and consumer goods.
However, there is no evidence that China has knowingly supplied Russia with troops, weaponry, or military expertise.
US officials have accused Iran of supplying Russia with drones, while both American and South Korean authorities assert that North Korea has sent thousands of troops and ammunition to assist Russia on the battlefield.
With Ukraine receiving substantial military support and diplomatic backing from the US and Europe, the war has in many ways become a broader contest between global power blocs.
Tensions between the US and China have continued to escalate, with disputes centering around geopolitical influence, trade, and technology. The recent imposition of new import tariffs by both nations has further unsettled global financial markets.
Zelensky stated that US officials were “surprised” when informed of the presence of Chinese mercenaries in Ukraine.
At a briefing in Washington on Tuesday, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the reports of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia as “disturbing.”
“China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine,” Bruce said, claiming that China supplies nearly 80 percent of the dual-use items Russia relies on to sustain the conflict.
However, Keith Kellogg, special envoy to Ukraine and Russia under former US President Donald Trump, expressed skepticism about the reports of Chinese personnel, suggesting they may simply be mercenaries or volunteers.
“There’s an axiom in the military—the first report is always wrong,” Kellogg remarked during an event at Georgetown University on Wednesday. “This is one of those situations where we should step back and see how it develops because these could just be volunteers.”
He pointed out that Ukraine also has foreign volunteers, including Americans, fighting on its behalf. Kellogg added that early reports of Chinese personnel were not comparable to North Korea’s confirmed deployment of thousands of troops to the Russian front lines.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, also criticized China, referring to it as “the key enabler of Russia’s war.”
She asserted in Brussels that dual-use goods are flowing into Russia through China and noted, “It’s clear that if China truly wanted to halt this support, it would have an impact.”
According to a US assessment last year, China has increased sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics, and other technologies that Moscow is using to manufacture missiles, tanks, aircraft, and other wartime equipment.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed a US proposal for a full and immediate 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Kyiv has agreed to the plan, but both sides are believed to be preparing for new military offensives in the spring and summer.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated China’s position, stating that the country has played a “constructive role in politically resolving the Ukraine crisis.”
Speaking at a daily press briefing on Wednesday, Lin emphasized, “The Chinese government always asks Chinese citizens to stay away from conflict zones, avoid getting involved in any form of armed conflict, and especially refrain from participating in any party’s military operations.”
His remarks suggested that the captured Chinese nationals may have joined Russia’s ranks on their own accord. Both Ukraine and Russia allow foreign volunteers to enlist in their forces.
China previously proposed a vague peace plan, but most observers quickly dismissed it.
Meanwhile, fighting continues along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) frontline, with both sides launching long-range strikes against each other.
In Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, the city of Kramatorsk suffered a “massive drone attack” overnight, according to regional governor Vadym Filashkin. The attack injured an 11-year-old girl, her mother, and her grandmother.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 55 Shahed and decoy drones across the country overnight.
On the other side, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses had shot down 158 Ukrainian drones over 11 regions overnight, though it reported no casualties or damage.
Several Russian regions temporarily suspended airport operations due to the drone attacks. Some Ukrainian drones even reached Russia’s Orenburg region, located nearly 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
