Ukraine Captures First Chinese Fighters Backing Russia in War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday announced the capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in the eastern Donetsk region, marking the first known instance of Chinese citizens directly involved in the war on Moscow’s side.

“There is evidence that significantly more Chinese citizens have joined the conflict,” Zelenskyy said, raising fresh concerns about Beijing’s role in the ongoing invasion.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the discovery calls into question China’s stated position of neutrality and peace. Posting on social media platform X, Sybiha suggested the development could indicate China is supplying Russia with manpower—a claim both China and Russia have yet to officially address.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China and Moscow have touted a “no limits” partnership and boosted military cooperation, according to Al Jazeera. The BBC described Ukraine’s report as the first formal allegation implicating China in providing personnel support to Russia’s military campaign.

Meanwhile, concerns are also mounting over North Korea’s involvement. Fighters from Pyongyang reportedly gaining combat experience in Ukraine are likely to pass on battlefield tactics to North Korea’s massive army, The Wall Street Journal reported, raising alarms in Seoul and Tokyo.

In response, Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani expressed interest in participating in NATO’s Ukraine support mission in Germany, calling for closer ties with the alliance. “Both Japan and NATO face many challenges, and our security environment has become increasingly severe,” Nakatani said.

As diplomatic tensions rise, the Associated Press reported that Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Both Kyiv and Moscow are believed to be preparing for a new phase of fighting in the spring and summer.