China has strongly rebuked Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent claims that Russia is actively recruiting Chinese citizens to fight in Ukraine, calling the accusations “irresponsible.” Zelenskyy had alleged that over 150 Chinese nationals were already engaged in combat with Russian forces, with Beijing’s knowledge.
The allegations followed the recent capture of two Chinese nationals who were reportedly fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing’s stance of promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict and urged Chinese citizens to avoid involvement in any armed conflict.
“We call on relevant parties to be responsible and sober when discussing China’s role, and refrain from making reckless statements,” Lin said during a daily briefing.
Zelenskyy’s comments, made on Wednesday, cited intelligence reports indicating that Russia had been recruiting Chinese mercenaries via social media platforms, including Chinese networks like TikTok. He claimed that China was aware of the recruitment, which allegedly involved over 150 Chinese nationals whose names and passport details had been shared with journalists by Ukrainian intelligence.
According to Zelenskyy, the recruits traveled to Russia for training before being deployed to Ukraine, where they served in Russian military units. Despite the growing concerns, Zelenskyy has not accused China of orchestrating the recruitment, though he suggested that Beijing was likely aware of the activities.
In response, China emphasized that it has not provided direct military assistance to Russia, although the two countries have maintained a strong diplomatic and economic relationship. Since the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China has been a key economic partner for Russia, purchasing energy resources and providing diplomatic support, but it has refrained from supplying direct military aid.
Zelenskyy also offered to exchange the two captured Chinese nationals for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia. The two men were captured in separate villages in the Donetsk region, and Zelenskyy indicated that their detainment was under the custody of the Ukrainian Security Service in Kyiv.
While foreign mercenaries, including fighters from North Korea, have been involved in the conflict, their impact has been minimal. Nonetheless, their presence underscores the financial incentives Russia is offering to bolster its ranks amidst domestic recruitment struggles.
Zelenskyy has stepped back from fully accusing China of deploying mercenaries, stating that the exact intentions behind the involvement of Chinese nationals remain unclear. However, the situation continues to raise questions about China’s role in the ongoing war.
Reference
China Denounces Zelenskyy’s Allegations on Chinese Mercenaries in Ukraine