Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian troops in the Donetsk region. A video of the prisoners was published on the President’s official channels.
“This is a disturbing signal. China has become the third country after Iran and North Korea whose citizens are supporting Russian aggression — but with one key difference: Chinese nationals are already fighting on Ukrainian soil,” Zelensky stated.
He has ordered the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense to urgently contact Chinese officials and demand an official explanation. Zelensky also emphasized that Ukraine cannot afford to be at war with multiple countries at once and expects the United States to prioritize discussions on this issue with Kyiv, not Moscow.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s chargé d’affaires, saying that Chinese citizens fighting with Russian forces challenges Beijing’s declared position on peace and undermines trust in China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Belgium Commits €1 Billion Annually and F-16 Jets for Ukraine
During his first foreign visit as Prime Minister, Belgium’s Bart De Wever visited Bucha, called Russia the aggressor, and confirmed his country’s ongoing support for Ukraine. Belgium will allocate €1 billion per year for Ukraine’s defense through 2025 and has already signed four contracts for joint arms production. It is also set to become the largest F-16 supplier to Ukraine, with the first jets arriving this year.
Following the deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, President Zelensky once again called on the U.S. to supply Patriot missile systems, stating they are in sufficient stock.
De Wever urged Europe to grow stronger to ensure it has a say in future peace talks. “If you’re not at the negotiation table, you’re on the menu. Putin believes he can ignore us, and the U.S. often prefers bilateral relations over working with European institutions. That’s a problem for Europe, Canada, and our other allies,” he said.
China Denies Sending Troops, But Evidence Says Otherwise
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian denied Beijing sent any troops to Ukraine, stating the government urges its citizens to avoid any involvement in the conflict.
Meanwhile, researcher Nonna Kobidze-Chen of Peking University reviewed the footage and confirmed the prisoners were indeed Chinese nationals. Based on their accents and documents, one is likely from Heilongjiang province. She suggested they were likely individual volunteers or contract soldiers, not members of the People’s Liberation Army.
Kobidze-Chen cited other cases where Chinese men joined the Russian army after being rejected by Ukraine, often for financial reasons or in search of citizenship. One prisoner reportedly paid 300,000 rubles to a recruiter to join Russia’s military in exchange for a promise of citizenship and was trained in occupied Luhansk using only a phone app for translation.
President Zelensky later stated that at least 155 Chinese nationals are currently fighting on the Russian side, often recruited via TikTok. One detainee revealed some Chinese fighters had legal issues in China and joined the war under the guise of tourism.
China’s Foreign Ministry insists it has no knowledge of these individuals and warns Kyiv to stop making “irresponsible statements.”
Reuters: Chinese Officers Observed Russian War Tactics with Beijing’s Approval
According to unnamed U.S. officials cited by Reuters, Chinese military officers were present in Russian rear zones near the front lines, observing operations with full approval from Beijing. Around 200 Chinese mercenaries are reportedly fighting for Russia, though they are believed to have no formal link to the Chinese government and play no strategic role in the conflict.