Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of systematically recruiting Chinese nationals to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking publicly on Thursday, he claimed more than 150 Chinese fighters are currently operating alongside Russian forces.
This accusation follows the capture of two Chinese citizens in the conflict-ravaged Donetsk region. Zelensky said the detentions are part of a larger trend of “systematic Russian efforts” to recruit individuals from China and other countries to bolster its war efforts.
“It is crystal clear that these are not isolated cases,” he said in a post shared on social media. He accompanied the message with a video showing an interrogation of one of the captured individuals, underlining the urgency of preventing Russia from prolonging and expanding the war through foreign recruitment.
Beijing responded sharply to the allegations, warning Ukraine and its allies against making what it called “irresponsible remarks.” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated China’s stance as a neutral party, committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
“China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party,” Lin said. “We urge the relevant parties to understand China’s role correctly and soberly.”
During a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever, Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine is investigating whether these Chinese recruits had any backing or direction from Chinese authorities. He speculated that the recruitment may have taken place through social media channels.
The Kremlin, however, backed Beijing’s stance. “China is our strategic partner, friend, and comrade,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “Zelensky is wrong.”
Keith Kellogg, a special envoy under Donald Trump, expressed skepticism about the allegations. Speaking at Georgetown University, he said he believes the captured individuals may be mercenaries or volunteers rather than official recruits.
“There’s an axiom in the military—the first report is always wrong,” Kellogg said. He also highlighted that Ukraine has international volunteers, including Americans, fighting in its defense.
This new point of tension unfolds as 30 nations gathered at NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss the deployment of troops in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached. British defence minister John Healey, who opened the session, stressed the urgency of ramping up pressure on Russia to bring the war to an end.
