Ukraine captures Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia, escalating tensions between Kyiv and Beijing while raising questions about China’s true position in the ongoing conflict.
Key Takeaways
- Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in the Donetsk region, with President Zelensky claiming more Chinese citizens are present in Russian military units.
- Ukraine has summoned China’s charge d’affaires and tasked Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha with contacting Beijing for an explanation of these individuals’ presence.
- The incident undermines China’s claims of neutrality in the conflict and its credibility as a UN Security Council permanent member committed to peace.
- China has maintained a “no limits” partnership with Russia since the 2022 invasion, expanding trade relations and supplying dual-use goods.
- President Zelensky has called for an international response from the United States and Europe regarding foreign involvement in the conflict.
Chinese Nationals Caught on Ukrainian Soil
Ukrainian military forces have captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian troops in the eastern Donetsk region. The arrests were announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who stated that Ukrainian authorities recovered identifying documents, bank cards, and personal data from the detained individuals. Ukraine’s intelligence service (SBU) is currently investigating the captured soldiers, whose presence represents a significant development in the internationalization of the conflict.
The Ukrainian government immediately responded by summoning China’s charge d’affaires in Kyiv, demanding an explanation for the presence of Chinese nationals in Russian military units. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has been tasked with directly contacting Beijing regarding the matter. The incident has potentially serious diplomatic implications, as it contradicts China’s public stance of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Our military has captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting as part of the Russian army. This happened on Ukrainian territory—in the Donetsk region. Identification documents, bank cards, and personal data were found in their possession.
We have information suggesting that… pic.twitter.com/ekBr6hCkQL
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2025
More Than Just Two Soldiers
According to President Zelensky, intelligence suggests that there are “more than two such Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units.” Western intelligence sources indicate that several hundred Chinese nationals may be fighting as mercenaries within the Russian army. However, it remains unclear whether these individuals are operating with official Chinese government sanction or as private mercenaries who joined the conflict voluntarily.
Ukrainian officials released video footage showing one of the captured soldiers speaking Mandarin, raising concerns about potential violations of the Geneva Convention, which restricts the public display of prisoners of war. The incident follows reports of North Korean troop deployments to support Russian operations in the Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces claim North Korean units have suffered significant casualties.
China’s Role in the Conflict
The capture of Chinese nationals has intensified scrutiny of China’s role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While Beijing officially maintains a neutral position and has proposed peace plans, its actions have largely aligned with Russian interests. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, China has deepened its “no limits” partnership with Moscow, expanding bilateral trade and supplying dual-use goods that can support Russia’s military efforts.
President Zelensky has grouped China with Iran and North Korea as countries supporting Russia’s war effort. He emphasized that Russia’s involvement of foreign nationals in the conflict demonstrates that “Putin intends to do anything but end the war” and is instead “looking for ways to continue fighting.” The Ukrainian leader has called for a strong international response, particularly from the United States and European nations.
Diplomatic Fallout and International Response
Ukraine has been attempting to improve relations with China, recently appointing a new ambassador and previously sending its Foreign Minister for diplomatic talks in Beijing. However, this incident threatens to derail those efforts. Kyiv has urged Beijing to use its influence to pressure Moscow to end the invasion, which has resulted in significant casualties and destruction across Ukraine.
The war has attracted foreign fighters to both sides, with individuals from approximately 70 countries having fought with Ukraine. President Trump’s administration has been pushing for a resolution to the conflict, but no breakthrough has been achieved. As Ukrainian forces struggle to hold ground in the east and conduct operations in Russia’s Belgorod region, the involvement of Chinese nationals adds another layer of complexity to an already internationalized conflict.
