GistNexus – April 8, 2025.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, revealed on Tuesday that two Chinese citizens fighting war for the Russian forces in the Donetsk region had been captured by the Ukrainian army. The revelation was made during a joint press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Kyiv, sparking huge fears about China’s involvement in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Clashes with Chinese Forces in Donetsk
The captured Chinese soldiers were part of a group that had been engaged in combat with Ukrainian troops near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka in the eastern region of the Donetsk province. As described by Zelenskyy, six Chinese soldiers were engaged in the fight, two of whom were captured as prisoners of war by the Ukrainian troops. The Ukrainian president disclosed that the captured soldiers carried personal documents like bank cards that would be used to identify them further.
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Zelenskyy also shared a video recording of one of the captured fighters and asserted that such engagement was not an isolated incident. In his account, Chinese citizens had engagement “much above” their initial figure among Russian troops. In his statement, the extent of such incursion into Ukrainian theater by the People’s Liberation Army will have severe ramifications around the world.
Beijing’s Reaction to War against Ukraine
While China has also been Russia’s top diplomatic ally, particularly with its support for Moscow’s economic and political stability throughout the war, the news of Chinese troops fighting for Russia contradicts the official word of Beijing on the war. China has continually stood for peace and advocated for a middle path and the peaceful end of the war and deplored Western arms shipments to Ukraine. Nevertheless, Chinese assistance to Russia has still been largely economic support and diplomatic aid, but not military assistance.
This fresh development calls China’s status as a responsible international community member into question, especially since it is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, condemned China’s involvement, taking to social media that the capture of Chinese soldiers “puts into question China’s proclaimed stand for peace and erodes Beijing’s credibility.”
Diplomatic Fallout and Ukraine’s Response
In response to the detention of Chinese soldiers, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine would immediately request Beijing to explain the presence of its citizens in Russian military units. He ordered Ukrainian diplomats to go to Chinese officials to discuss the issue. Zelenskyy also suggested that this issue had to be discussed in coordination with Ukraine’s Western allies to make sure that China’s participation in the war was appropriately questioned.
Zelenskyy’s utterance brought focus on the larger context of international involvement in the war. Though China had, till now, remained unheard of for providing Russia with military goods or expertise—time and again unlike Iran and North Korea—its diplomatic relation with Moscow has remained pivotal to supporting Russia’s economy during the war. Such an event can, however, make China an embarrassment to Ukraine and change the world’s backing of the war.
Enlistment of Foreign Nationals for Military Services
It should be noted that just like in Ukraine, Russia also allows foreign nationals to become part of its military. The financial rewards and determination to fight in the name of Russia may have compelled many individuals from countries like China to join the Russian forces. Foreign nationals who become part of the Russian forces typically do so for money, something that has enticed many individuals across the globe.
Ukraine further claimed that it also has foreign volunteers who are actively fighting alongside them, such as citizens of countries like the United States, Canada, and various European countries engaging in the Ukrainian defense troops. This brings to the forefront the international dimensions of the war and the vast number of individuals engaged in the war.
China’s Continued Diplomatic Support for Russia
Despite the revelation that Chinese nationals were fighting in Russia, Beijing has not been blamed directly for giving weapons or military intelligence to Moscow. As opposed to countries such as Iran and North Korea, which have sent soldiers and drones, China’s aid has remained focused on economic and diplomatic channels. China has been a chief economic lifeline for Russia, particularly in trade in consumer goods and energy, and has acted to insulate Russia from Western sanctions.
But China’s lack of direct military intervention does not absolve it from blame for supporting the war efforts of Russia. That Chinese citizens are now involved in the conflict also raises the question of Beijing’s complicity in enabling Moscow’s military interventions. This revelation adds an element of complexity to the already tensed diplomatic relations between China, Ukraine, and the West.
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Russia’s Foreign Military Support
Chinese nationals on the Russian side are not the first outside intervention in the war. North Korea previously had deployed up to 12,000 troops in the Russian-controlled Kursk area during the war, and Iran has been providing Russia with Shahed drones. While foreign troops have not been a decisive influence on the overall direction of the war, their presence reminds us of the multilateral character of the war.
Zelenskyy said North Korean soldiers, who had been brought into the Kursk area, suffered heavy casualties, with two-thirds of the soldiers killed or wounded. The involvement of these nations complicates the situation and raises concerns regarding the broader international implications of Russian aggression.
The Geopolitical Consequences of Chinese Involvement
The reality that Chinese citizens are now thought to be fighting in Russia’s defense has geopolitical ramifications of tremendous proportions. The news undermines China’s claim to being an impartial actor in the war and contributes to pressure on its diplomatic ties with Western powers. The United States and its allies have already protested China’s contribution to facilitating Russia’s war effort, particularly through financial support.
China’s involvement, either directly in the form of military participation or indirectly through support, could result in a reevaluation of the global balance of power in the context of the conflict. As the conflict continues to change, it remains to be seen how China will respond to the increasing criticism of its involvement and whether it will attempt to withdraw from Russia’s military effort.
Russian Advances and U.S. General’s Assessment
Meanwhile, Russia has also achieved dramatic military advances over the last several days, notably in the west Kursk region, where it has virtually regained complete control. Russian troops have managed to drive Ukrainian troops out of the village of Guyevo, which is a major shift in the balance of the battlefield. Nevertheless, U.S. European Command chief General Christopher Cavoli assessed that Ukraine remains in good defensive shape and is inflicting significant casualties on Russian troops.
Cavoli testified that while Russia has failed to match gains it had made last autumn, Ukraine is not in “imminent danger” of breaking up. Both are likely to be gearing up for a mass-scale spring-summer campaign as the weather heats up and the terrain becomes favorable for mass-scale operations.
Russia’s Continuous Assaults on Ukrainian Civilians
Other than the war efforts in Donetsk and Kursk, Russian forces have also persisted in targeting Ukrainian civilians, as reports of deadly attacks were reported across the country. Russian shelling and airstrikes killed at least three people and wounded 19 others, according to Ukrainian officials.
The most devastating attack occurred in Kryvyi Rih, where Russia launched a ballistic attack that resulted in the deaths of nine children. The attack has sparked international outrage and has led Ukraine to request an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for greater responsibility for Russian war crimes and emphasized the need for greater diplomatic efforts to end the war.
GistNexus War Reporter Stated that
Capturing to two Chinese soldiers that are fighting for Russia by Ukrainian forces adds another layer of complication to the war and raises serious questions about China’s involvement in the conflict. Beijing has supported Russia diplomatically and financially, but the occurrence of Chinese citizens appearing on the battlefield could undermine China’s neutrality and pose a risk to its relations with other countries. As the war continues, both diplomatic and military moves will shape the course of the war and the global response to Russia’s incursion into Ukraine.
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Reported by GistNexus Team and Edited by Mr. Chibueze Onwuka