According to Zelensky, 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia

According to Zelensky, 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj announced on Wednesday that the Ukrainian secret services identified 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting alongside the Russian armed forces. This was done a day after the Ukraine had announced that two Chinese citizens were captured in the country.

recruitment about social media

Selenskyj said that the Chinese nationals were recruited through advertisements, including on social media. China always contested every participation in the war. A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected all claims on Wednesday that Chinese citizens are fighting in Ukraine, and described them as "groundless".

official instruction of the Chinese government

"It is important to emphasize that the Chinese government has always advised its citizens to stay away from conflict areas and not to take part in conflicts in any form, especially not in military operations one of the parties," said spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference.

suspicion of recruitment by Russia

A document by the Ukrainian security authorities that are available shows a list of more than 150 Chinese citizens who are said to have served with the Russian armed forces, most of whom are in the lowest military positions. Most contracts in the document date to "2024" and cover various military units. However, this list was not verified by CNN.

more information and concerns

"We collect information and believe that there are many more," said Selenskyj, claiming that Beijing knew that Russians published recruitment videos in the Chinese social networks. "These people travel to the Russian Federation, to Moscow. The medical examinations last three to four days. The training camps last one or two months. They fight on the territory of Ukraine," he added.

Questions about Beijing's official politics

When asked whether he regarded the presence of Chinese citizens in Ukraine as a result of the official policy of Beijings, Selenskyj replied: "I have no answer. The security service of Ukraine will work on it ... We do not say that someone has given a command; we do not have this information."

Development of the situation

The allegations of Chinese citizens who fight alongside the Russian troops report that two Chinese citizens who fight in the Russian army were captured in the east of Ukraine. Selenskyj stated on Tuesday that the Ukrainian armed forces had obtained documents, bank cards and personal data from the prisoner of Chinese citizens.

exchange of prisoners

The Ukrainian President emphasized on Wednesday that Ukraine was "ready to exchange the two people for Ukrainian prisoners of war". The spokesman for the Kremlin refused to comment on the claims on Wednesday that Chinese citizens were captured in Ukraine. Beijing explained on Wednesday that the situation with Ukraine is "currently being checked".

Case of a prisoner Chinese citizen

A captured Chinese citizen who fought in the east of Ukraine stated that he had paid 300,000 rubs (approx. 3,500 USD) through an intermediary in China to join the Russian army with the aim of becoming Russian citizens. According to the Ukrainian military authority, the Chinese prisoner could have been under pressure when he spoke.

additional details about training

"He stated that his main motivation was the desire to become a soldier and to preserve the citizenship of the Russian Federation. He also mentioned that some group members had legal problems in China," said the communication department of the Luhansk surgical group in a statement. According to this declaration, he received an apprenticeship in the temporarily occupied area of the Luhansk-Oblast in a group of Chinese citizens, whereby the training included fundamental military skills and was carried out without interpreting, using gestures and a mobile translator for communication.

collaboration with Ukrainian authorities

The Ukrainian military tactics group explained that the man was captured when a Russian attack group revealed himself under the fire of Ukrainian soldiers. "The individual is currently working with the Ukrainian investigative authorities, and his identity and citizenship have been confirmed. He found that his family was informed about his intentions to go to Russia, even though he was officially traveling as a tourist," says the explanation.