Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that at least 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia in the ongoing war. This comes after two Chinese fighters were captured earlier this week, marking Kyiv’s first official allegation that China is supplying Russia with manpower.
Zelensky reiterated his claim, stating that there are “many more” Chinese nationals engaged in the conflict, based on information gathered by his government. The Ukrainian president accused Russia of recruiting Chinese citizens through social media and providing them with training and payment before sending them to the battlefield.
In response, a Chinese government spokesman said that China is neither a creator nor a party to the Ukrainian crisis and has always required its citizens to stay away from armed conflict areas. Beijing has previously denied supplying Russia with military equipment, but Zelensky’s allegations have raised concerns about China’s involvement in the conflict.
The news comes as Ukraine’s forces have fought six Chinese soldiers in the eastern Donetsk region, taking two prisoners. The incident has sparked tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with Washington saying that the reports of Chinese fighting for Russia are “disturbing”.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wdd228953o