Kyiv:
China on Wednesday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodimier Zelansky’s claim that many Chinese citizens were fighting for Russia, calling it “absolutely baseless”.
Zelansky said on Tuesday that Kiev had caught two Chinese citizens fighting with the Russian forces, and was evidence that “many more Chinese citizens” were fighting with Moscow.
Our army has caught two Chinese citizens who were fighting as part of the Russian army. This occurred in the Ukrainian region – in the Donnetsk region. Identity documents, bank cards and personal data were found in their possession.
We have suggestions that it is suggested that… pic.twitter.com/ekbr6hckql
– Volodymyr zelenskyy / volodymyr zelenskyy April 8, 2025
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lynn Gian told a press conference that it was “absolutely baseless”, to reveal that many Chinese citizens were fighting in Ukraine.
He said, “The Chinese government has always asked its citizens to stay away from the areas of armed struggle (and) avoid participation in armed conflicts in any form,” he said.
He said that Beijing was confirming the relevant information with Kiev.
Kremlin refused to comment on the case.
China presents itself as a neutral party in the struggle and states that it is not sending fatal assistance on both sides, unlike the United States and other Western countries.
But it is a close political and economic partner of Russia, and members of NATO have branded Beijing the “decisive ambassador” of Moscow’s aggressive, which he has never condemned.
“The Chinese side position on the issue of Ukraine crisis is clear and unequal, and won wide approval from the international community,” Lynn said.
“The Ukrainian side should look at China’s efforts and creative role correctly in advancing a political resolution for the Ukraine crisis.”
Officials said at least two people were killed and two injured in the eastern Donnetsk region of Ukraine on Wednesday and during Russian shelling, a person died in the southern region of Kheran in the southern region, the officials said, as the war passes through its fourth year.
Payed to join?
Ukrainian troops captured two Chinese citizens while fighting with Russian forces in the Donnetsk region, Zelanski told reporters on Tuesday.
Citing the Ukrainian army, media outlet Ukrarenska Pravada said that one of the prisoners had paid $ 3,480 to a mediator in China to join the Russian army as he wanted to get Russian citizenship.
According to Eucharca Pravada, the prisoner, who is now collaborating with Ukrainian officials, also said that he was trained in the Russian-Quiz Lugansk region as a group of Chinese citizens, some of which had legal issues.
Kiev released a video of one of the alleged Chinese prisoners showing a person wearing military fatigue with her hands.
He copied the voice from the war and spoke several words in Mandarin during a clear interview with a Ukrainian officer.
A senior Ukrainian official told the AFP that he was “captured” a few days ago, saying that they could be more of them.
The official said the prisoners were probably Chinese citizens, instead of being sent by Beijing, was included in signing a contract with the Russian army.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)