On Wednesday, Ukraine expanded its earlier claims regarding Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in its ongoing invasion, stating that it has collected comprehensive intelligence on over 150 mercenaries allegedly recruited by Moscow through social media platforms. In response, Chinese authorities dismissed the allegations as “totally unfounded.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Tuesday that the country’s armed forces had captured two Chinese individuals fighting alongside Russian troops on Ukrainian territory. It marked the first official statement by Ukraine regarding Chinese fighters taking part in the war.
Zelensky also indicated that Kyiv is open to negotiating a prisoner exchange, proposing to trade the two captured individuals for Ukrainian soldiers currently held by Russia.
Although he did not present concrete proof, Zelensky claimed that Chinese officials were aware of Russia’s efforts to enlist Chinese mercenaries. However, he stopped short of accusing the Chinese government of officially endorsing their involvement in the conflict.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine possesses the surnames and passport details of 155 Chinese nationals serving in the Russian military, adding that “we believe that there are many more of them.”
He reportedly shared documents with journalists that include names, passport information, and other personal details of the alleged Chinese fighters—such as their arrival dates in Russia for training and subsequent deployments. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed the authenticity of these documents.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has offered consistent diplomatic backing to Moscow. According to Western officials, Beijing has also supplied Russia with machinery and microelectronics potentially used in weapon manufacturing, in addition to bolstering Russia’s economy through energy and consumer goods trade.
Zelensky said that U.S. officials reacted with “surprise” upon learning about the alleged presence of Chinese fighters in Ukraine.
During a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman 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 stated. She asserted that China supplies “nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war.”
