China has firmly dismissed Ukraine’s allegations that “many” Chinese citizens are engaged in fighting alongside Russian forces, calling these claims “absolutely groundless.”
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese government, emphasized the importance of protecting its citizens, stating, “The Chinese side is verifying relevant information with the Ukrainian side,” and reiterated, “The Chinese government has always urged its citizens to steer clear of armed conflict areas and to avoid involvement in any form of armed conflicts.”
This response from China follows remarks made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who disclosed that Ukrainian troops had detained two Chinese nationals allegedly fighting with Russian forces in the Donetsk region. In a recent social media update, he stated, “We have the documents of these prisoners, bank cards, and personal data,” alongside a video featuring one of the accused individuals.
In a tweet dated April 8, 2025, Zelensky elucidated, “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…” [source]
The captured individuals reportedly demonstrated combat noises and articulated several phrases in Mandarin during an interview with an unseen Ukrainian official. A senior official from Ukraine informed AFP that these captures occurred “a few days ago” and suggested that there may be additional incidents.
The official indicated that the prisoners likely entered into contracts with the Russian military voluntarily, rather than being dispatched by the Chinese government. Zelensky further asserted that there is evidence indicating “many more Chinese citizens” are involved in the conflict on the side of Russia, a claim Lin dismissed once again as “absolutely groundless.”
Lin articulated, “The Chinese side’s position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is clear and unequivocal, and has won widespread approval from the international community.” He further urged Ukraine to appreciate China’s constructive efforts toward finding a political solution to the ongoing crisis.
In this complex dynamic, China has positioned itself as a neutral entity, refraining from supplying lethal support to either side, which starkly contrasts the actions of the United States and other Western nations.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the relationship between China and Russia has grown stronger, characterized by deepening political, military, and economic ties. However, NATO members have labeled China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s military endeavors, which Beijing has neither condemned nor openly endorsed.
While Russia has not formally addressed these allegations, Ukraine has persistently encouraged China to leverage its influence over Russia to halt the invasion that has led to significant loss of life and has yet to enable Russia to achieve its primary objectives.
In an effort to strengthen relations, Ukraine recently appointed a new ambassador to China. Nevertheless, Zelensky has expressed apprehension regarding reports of Chinese nationals participating in combat on Ukrainian soil, especially in light of North Korean troops reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. “I think this is an important point that we need to discuss with our partners, I think urgently,” he stated during a recent press conference.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
