Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals who were actively engaged in combat as part of Russian military units operating in eastern Ukraine.
The incident occurred in the Donetsk region, where the 81st Separate Airmobile Slobozhanska Brigade of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces detained the men during fighting near the settlements of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the captures on 8 April, stating that the Chinese citizens were found with official documents, bank cards, and other personal effects that established their identities. He noted that the two were part of a larger group of six Chinese fighters involved in a direct engagement with Ukrainian troops.
“These individuals were captured on Ukrainian territory, fighting as part of the Russian army,” Zelenskyy said in a public statement. “We have reason to believe that the presence of Chinese nationals among Russian forces is not limited to these two individuals. Intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and military units are now working to verify all available information.”
Zelenskyy directed Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to urgently contact Beijing to request clarification. Ukraine’s foreign ministry also summoned China’s chargé d’affaires in Kyiv to address the incident and explain the apparent participation of Chinese citizens in hostilities against Ukraine.
The two men are currently in the custody of the SBU, and formal legal and investigative procedures are underway. According to Ukrainian officials, this case constitutes further evidence of growing international involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine, despite Beijing’s repeated assertions of neutrality.
Zelenskyy characterised the incident as indicative of a broader strategy by Moscow. “Russia is seeking any means to prolong the war. The involvement—direct or indirect—of Chinese nationals in the invasion is a clear signal that Vladimir Putin intends to escalate, not end, this conflict,” he said. He called for a coordinated international response, stating: “There must be a reaction from the United States, from Europe, and from all countries that support peace.”
The Ukrainian president further noted the distinction between earlier reports of North Korean forces, who were allegedly deployed near the Kursk sector of the front, and the Chinese nationals, who were operating directly on Ukrainian territory. “This is not the same as training support or logistical backing—it is direct participation in combat operations on our soil,” he said.
The incident has drawn international attention. In Washington, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the confirmation of Chinese involvement in the war as “deeply troubling.” Speaking at a press briefing, she referred to China as “the principal enabler of Russia’s war effort,” citing data that nearly 80% of dual-use goods required by Russia for its military operations are sourced from China.
Bruce added: “This development underscores the reality of the growing strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing. As President Trump has said, continued military and technological cooperation between these two nuclear powers will only deepen global instability and make the United States, its allies, and partners less secure.”
The Trump administration, which returned to office in January 2025, has hardened its position on China and may use this incident to further justify its foreign policy pivot towards containment. U.S. officials are reportedly considering additional measures targeting Chinese entities involved in the export of military-grade and dual-use components to Russia.
Beijing has not yet issued a formal response. However, the matter has been reported in the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based publication widely seen as conveying official positions to an international readership. The article cited Zelenskyy’s remarks in full, an indication that the Chinese government may be preparing to address the issue more directly.
For Ukraine, the capture of Chinese nationals on the battlefield strengthens its argument that the war is no longer a bilateral confrontation, but one increasingly shaped by external actors. The government is expected to raise the matter with key Western partners, including the United States and EU member states, as part of its broader diplomatic campaign.
Should evidence emerge that the captured individuals were acting under official orders or with state support, the case could prompt further deterioration in Ukraine–China relations and raise new questions about Beijing’s role in the conflict. Ukrainian officials have not ruled out the possibility that more such cases may follow.
For now, the presence of Chinese fighters on Ukrainian soil has added a new dimension to the war—one that may alter the way Kyiv, Washington, and Brussels assess China’s claims of neutrality.
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