Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that more than 150 Chinese nationals are participating in the war in Ukraine on the side of Russia, with Ukrainian authorities having identified 155 individuals by name and passport number.
On April 8, Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting in Donetsk. The individuals are currently held by Ukraine’s Security Service. Zelensky indicated that more Chinese nationals are likely serving in Russian ranks.
The Ukrainian government believes the recruitment of Chinese citizens is being conducted through social media platforms, including TikTok. Zelensky noted that promotional videos are distributed through Chinese social networks, describing the process as open and public, though he did not exclude the possibility of covert recruitment.
According to Zelensky, those recruited travel to Moscow for medical checks before being sent to training centers for one to two months. They are provided with access to Russia’s state-run “Mir” payment system and issued migration documents for legal residency.
Zelensky also claimed that China was aware of the recruitment efforts. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded, stating that China advises its citizens to avoid conflict zones and cautioned against making “irresponsible remarks.”