In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals who were allegedly fighting alongside the Russian army in the Donetsk region. This revelation was made by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who highlighted concerns regarding the potential number of Chinese soldiers involved in the conflict, suggesting that the actual figure may be much higher than just two.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, also expressed alarm over the presence of Chinese troops on Ukrainian soil, stating that their involvement raises serious questions about China's proclaimed commitment to peace. He announced that China's envoy in Kyiv has been summoned for an explanation regarding this matter. This incident marks the first official allegation that China might be providing manpower to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
According to President Zelensky, the captured soldiers were identified in the eastern Donetsk region and were found with identification documents that included personal bank cards. In a post on the social media platform X, he noted that Ukrainian forces engaged six Chinese soldiers and successfully took two of them prisoner. The post included a video showing one of the alleged captives, who was handcuffed and spoke in Mandarin Chinese, seemingly recounting a recent battle.
Zelensky emphasized that intelligence reports indicate a larger presence of Chinese citizens within Russian military units, asserting that Russia's involvement of foreign troops is a blatant indication that President Vladimir Putin is not seeking to end the conflict. He urged a global response from the United States, Europe, and all nations advocating for peace.
An investigation is currently ongoing, and the captured Chinese nationals are in the custody of Ukraine's security service. Minister Sybiha condemned the participation of Chinese citizens in the conflict, labeling Russia's enlistment of foreign nationals as an act of aggression against Ukraine. He also criticized China's credibility as a responsible member of the UN Security Council, pointing out that such involvement undermines its claims of neutrality.
Reports from French newspaper Le Monde have previously indicated that around 40 accounts belonging to Chinese individuals on the TikTok sister app, Douyin, claim to have joined the Russian military. This adds to the growing concern over foreign involvement in the war, especially as North Korea has also sent troops to support Russia's efforts in Ukraine. In a recent press conference, Zelensky noted the presence of North Korean fighters on the front lines and recalled Ukraine's earlier capture of injured North Korean soldiers.
Despite its close political and economic ties with Russia, China has consistently sought to position itself as a neutral party in the conflict, denying any allegations of supplying military equipment to Moscow. However, the situation remains tense as Russia continues to utilize overwhelming tactics, including deploying large numbers of soldiers to the front lines in a strategy often referred to as "meat grinder tactics." Since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has managed to control approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, primarily in the eastern regions.
