Two Chinese soldiers have been captured while fighting against Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said, claiming that there are “many more” among Russia’s ranks.
Ukraine’s forces battled with six Chinese troops in the Donetsk region, according to the Ukrainian president who shared footage of one of the supposed Chinese prisoners with his hands zip tied together on X.
Kyiv demanded an explanation from Beijing, before China’s charge d’affaires was summoned to the Ukraine foreign ministry by foreign minister Andrii Sybiha – who said the development “undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council”.
Mr Zelensky said the clash with the Chinese soldiers occurred near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka in Donetsk.
The involvement of Chinese troops appears to be the most significant involvement of foreign fighters in Moscow’s war effort since 12,000 North Koreans assisted Russian troops in Kursk – where they recently reclaimed large swathes of land from Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky, however, noted a “difference” between the two: “The North Koreans were fighting on the Kursk front against us. The Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine.”
In a post on X, the Ukrainian president said the development required a response from the White House, from which Kyiv has repeatedly demanded a stronger stance against continued Russian aggression amid ongoing efforts towards a ceasefire.
There has been no suggestion that the Chinese government was involved in sending troops to Ukraine and despite Mr Zelensky’s claim there are “many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two”, Kyiv has not yet supported the assertion with evidence.
Defence analyst Francis Tusa suggested that if Chinese troops were being used, it could indicate Russian manpower problems, with Moscow throwing thousands of troops towards the eastern frontline each day, suffering significant personnel losses for relatively small territorial gains.
“It does raise the question of whether Russia has got problems with its troops,” he told The Independent. “They have only introduced very partial conscription and have tried to avoid making it Muscovites.
“It might be considered by Putin to be better to bring in Chinese mercenaries rather than his own people where there is a risk of potential rebellion and people saying no.
“However, that would be slightly high risk by Russia, as Trump does not like the Chinese.”
John Lough, head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies centre, believes troops may have been coerced to join Russian forces with the promise of a future in Moscow, after dozens of Indian men were sent to the frontline under the same pretences last year.
“It is very hard to believe that the Chinese authorities would be in any way involved in this”, Mr Lough told The Independent, noting that Beijing has been “extremely careful to limit their involvement in this war”.
