Ukrainian Forces Capture Chinese Nationals Fighting for Russia, Raising Questions Over China's Stance on Ukraine War
Ukrainian forces have recently taken two Chinese nationals into custody, who were reportedly fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this development, stating that intelligence indicates a potentially higher number of Chinese soldiers involved with Russian forces than just the two captured.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed serious concerns, emphasizing that the presence of Chinese troops on Ukrainian soil contradicts China's professed commitment to peace. He further disclosed that China's diplomatic representative in Kyiv has been summoned for clarification on this matter. This marks the first formal accusation regarding China allegedly providing manpower to Russia amidst its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
No immediate responses have come from either Moscow or Beijing about these claims. President Zelensky shared the news on the social media platform X, revealing that the captured soldiers were apprehended with identification documents, including bank cards that contained personal information. According to Zelensky, Ukrainian forces engaged in conflict with six Chinese soldiers, managing to capture two of them. A video was released showing one alleged Chinese captive in handcuffs speaking Mandarin and recounting a recent battle.
Zelensky commented, "We suspect there are significantly more Chinese nationals among the forces of the occupier than just these two soldiers." He underscored that the involvement of China—and potentially other nations—in the war serves as a clear indication that President Vladimir Putin is not seeking to conclude hostilities anytime soon. The Ukrainian leader urged a strong international response from the United States, Europe, and all nations advocating for peace.
An investigation is underway, and the captured individuals are currently in the custody of Ukraine's security service. Foreign Minister Sybiha reiterated a strong condemnation of Russia's engagement of Chinese citizens in its war against Ukraine, asserting that such involvement questions China's credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The situation is further complicated by previous reports from French newspaper Le Monde, which indicated approximately 40 accounts on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) belonging to Chinese individuals claiming to have enlisted in the Russian army. Additionally, there are allegations that North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to support Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, complicating the already tense geopolitical situation.
In a recent press conference, Zelensky remarked that both North Koreans and Chinese are actively participating in the conflict, with Ukrainian forces previously capturing two injured North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk Oblast early this year.
While Beijing and Moscow maintain a close political and economic alliance, China has long positioned itself as a neutral entity in the Ukraine conflict, consistently denying any military support for Russia. Nonetheless, reports of high casualty tactics employed by Russia raise further questions about the strategic implications of foreign fighters in this protracted war.
Since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has captured approximately 20% of Ukraine's territory, primarily in the eastern regions, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and international tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict.
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