Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that two Chinese citizens have been captured while fighting in eastern Ukraine. This revelation came during a press conference where he stated that Ukrainian forces had engaged six Chinese soldiers, capturing two of them. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for an explanation from Beijing regarding the presence of these soldiers in the conflict.
He mentioned that intelligence suggests there may be many more Chinese citizens involved with Russian forces than just the two captured. Zelenskyy is currently seeking to gather more information about this situation.
China has been viewed as an ally of Russia, and there are ongoing concerns about its potential support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Despite these concerns, Beijing has consistently denied allegations of supplying weapons to Russian forces.
Zelenskyy expressed that the involvement of Chinese soldiers, whether directly or indirectly, sends a troubling message about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions to prolong the war. He remarked that this indicates Putin is looking for ways to continue the conflict rather than seeking peace.
Military analyst Michael Clarke weighed in on the implications of the captured Chinese soldiers. He noted that if these individuals are merely fighting as mercenaries, it could be embarrassing for China but may not have significant repercussions. However, if they are operating under orders from the Chinese government, it would raise serious legal and diplomatic issues for Beijing.
Clarke pointed out that such a scenario would suggest that China is sending its citizens to fight in a foreign conflict, which could lead to a major diplomatic fallout. He stressed that the territory in question is recognized as Ukrainian, despite Russian claims.
The war in Ukraine has attracted fighters from various nationalities, often motivated by financial incentives. This trend does not necessarily reflect official support from their home countries. In addition, North Korea has reportedly sent troops to assist Russia in the conflict.
In a related statement, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces have also been active in Russia’s Belgorod region, describing these actions as justified. He stated that the war should be brought back to where it started.