Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces have captured two individuals of Chinese origin fighting for the Russian army in the eastern region of Donetsk.
In a statement posted on social media, President Zelensky mentioned that personal identification cards, bank cards, and other documents were found in the possession of these individuals. A video of one of the Chinese nationals speaking in Mandarin Chinese was also released.
According to Zelensky, intelligence reports suggest that more Chinese citizens might be involved in Russian military units. He added, “These individuals were fighting for the Russian army on Ukrainian soil, at the front in Donetsk.”
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned China’s Charge d’Affaires in Kyiv to seek clarification on the matter. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said, “The involvement of Chinese citizens in the Russian invading forces casts doubt on China’s claims of neutrality.”
The U.S. Department of State has called the report “concerning” and accused China of being a “key enabler” of Russia’s war efforts, particularly in providing dual-use items like semiconductors and aircraft parts.
President Zelensky has called for an immediate response from the international community, including the U.S. and European countries.
It is worth noting that China has consistently claimed to remain neutral in the Ukraine war, and no immediate response has been provided from Beijing.
