Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that at least 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia during the war.
His comments arise after two Chinese fighters were captured earlier this week – marking the first official allegation of kyiv that China provided workforce in Russia.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Zelensky reiterated his assertion that there are “much more” Chinese nationals engaged in the conflict, based on information collected by his government.
Responding Thursday, a spokesperson for the Chinese government said that they “advised the relevant parties to understand the role of China correctly and soberly and not to make irresponsible comments”.
“China is neither the creator nor a party to the Ukrainian crisis. We are a fervent supporter and active promoter of the peaceful resolution of the crisis,” said spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian.
He reiterated a previous comment which seemed to suggest that Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia did so in their private quality.
Mr. Lin said that China “has always forced its citizens to stay away from armed conflict zones and to avoid being involved in armed conflicts in any form whatsoever, in particular to avoid participating in military operations of any part”.
Beijing has already denied that many citizens are fighting for Russia, saying that the complaint had “no basis in fact”.
Earlier this week, Zelensky said that his forces had fought six Chinese soldiers in the Donetk region of Ukraine and made two prisoners. Russia has refused to comment on this revelation.
Zelensky told journalists on Wednesday that “the Chinese problem was serious”.
“There are 155 people with surnames, with data on passports-155 Chinese citizens who fight against Ukrainians in the territory of Ukraine,” he said, according to Notes reported by Interfax.
He added that Russia recruited Chinese citizens on social networks and that “official Beijing knows it”.
According to Zelensky, alleged recruits receive training in Moscow before being sent to the battlefield to Ukraine, as well as migration and payment documents.
He also published on X a video of what seemed to be an interrogation of the two Chinese soldiers captured.
Speaking in Mandarin Chinese, the soldiers described their history and how they were captured.
One of them said it was his “first time in service and the first time in combat. Before that, I had never even pulled a weapon”. He added that he had been captured with a Russian soldier.
The other mentions that he was in a group which included two other Chinese soldiers before being separated into chaos. “Everyone has dispersed, I don’t know if they died or not,” he said.
He said he finally went with Russian soldiers.
Zelensky said on X that: “Ukraine believes that such a blatant involvement of Chinese citizens in hostilities in the territory of Ukraine during the war of aggression is a deliberate step towards the expansion of war, and this is another indication that Moscow simply needs to draw the fights.”
He called the United States and the rest of the world for an answer.
Washington said Chinese fighting reports for Russia were “disturbing”.
Ukraine has in the past questioned the declared neutral position of China. Zelensky previously alleged That Beijing provides “elements that are part of the weapons of Russia” and called on the country to maintain a “coherent” position.
China has been accused by the United States to help Russia make more ammunition, armored vehicles and missiles. It has also been examined to allow double -use technology that can be used both commercially and militarily – such as computer flea and drones – to be exported to Russia.
While Beijing and Moscow are close political and economic allies, China has tried to present itself as a neutral party in the conflict and has repeatedly denied providing Russia with military equipment.
He defends his trade with Moscow by saying that he does not sell deadly weapons and “carefully manages the export of articles for double use in accordance with laws and regulations”.
The allegations concerning Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia follow the capture of Ukraine Two north-Korean soldiers injured in the Kursk Oblast in Russia.
