US calls presence of Chinese fighters in Ukraine ‘disturbing’ as Zelenskyy seeks Beijing’s response

The United States on Tuesday expressed concern after reports emerged that two Chinese nationals had been captured by Ukrainian forces while allegedly fighting for Russia, calling it a ‘disturbing’ indication of Beijing’s alignment with Moscow.

“This is disturbing,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “China continues to play a key enabling role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the two individuals were detained in the eastern Donetsk region while fighting alongside Russian troops. He claimed they were part of a broader contingent of Chinese nationals in the Russian military.

Our military has captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting as part of the Russian army. This happened on Ukrainian territory—in the Donetsk region. Identification documents, bank cards, and personal data were found in their possession.

We have information suggesting that… pic.twitter.com/ekBr6hCkQL

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2025

Zelenskyy said he would instruct Ukraine’s foreign minister to seek immediate clarification from Beijing regarding the presence of its citizens in the conflict. It remains unclear whether the two detainees were sent by the Chinese government or had joined the Russian forces independently.

Reports suggest that several hundred Chinese nationals may have joined the Russian military as mercenaries, along with others from countries like Nepal and parts of Central Asia. However, their participation appears to differ from the reported deployment of 11,000 North Korean soldiers, which followed an official agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian authorities recovered identification documents, bank cards, and personal details from the two captured men. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) is now working to verify the information and investigate their involvement.

The Ukrainian leader argued that Russia’s recruitment of foreign fighters, including Chinese nationals, shows that Moscow is not serious about a ceasefire, despite ongoing US-backed peace negotiations that have yielded little progress in recent weeks.

“Bringing China and others into this war—whether officially or unofficially—makes it clear that Putin is focused on prolonging the conflict, not ending it,” Zelenskyy said on social media.

Kyiv has called on its Western allies to respond to Russia’s deployment of a significant number of North Korean soldiers in the western Russian region of Kursk.

Amid these developments, Ukraine’s forces continue to face challenges in holding territory after launching an offensive along the border last year. However, President Zelenskyy revealed for the first time on Monday that Ukrainian troops have been operating inside Russia’s Belgorod region.

With inputs from agencies