President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukrainian troops had captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces, adding that Kyiv would demand an explanation from Beijing and a reaction from its allies.
Moscow and Beijing have in recent years boasted of their “no limits” partnership and deepened political, military and economic cooperation since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“Our military captured two Chinese citizens who fought in the Russian army. This happened on the territory of Ukraine — in the Donetsk region,” Zelensky said in a post on social media.
“We have the documents of these prisoners, bank cards, and personal data,” Zelensky said in a post that included a video of one of the alleged Chinese prisoners.
There was no immediate response to the claims from either Moscow or Beijing but Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said on social media that China’s charge d’affaires had been summoned for an explanation.
“Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Sybiga said.
China presents itself as a neutral party in the conflict and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.
But it is a close political and economic ally of Russia and NATO members have branded Beijing a “decisive enabler” of Moscow’s invasion, which it has never condemned.
‘Pay attention’
US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a speedy end to the more than three-year war since taking office but his administration has failed to reach a breakthrough despite rounds of negotiations.
Kyiv has repeatedly urged Beijing to pressure Moscow to end its invasion that has cost tens of thousands of lives and yet still so far failed to see the Kremlin achieve its core objectives.
Zelensky said Kyiv had evidence that “many more Chinese citizens” are fighting alongside Russian forces and that he had instructed his foreign minister to find out how China intends to respond.
He said the capture of the two men and Moscow’s involvement of China in the conflict were “a clear signal that Putin is going to do anything but end the war”.
Zelensky also demanded “a reaction from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who wants peace” in his post online.
“I think the United States should pay more attention to what is happening today,” he said separately at a press conference in Kyiv.
‘Urgent’ discussions
Zelensky issued images showing one of the alleged captives wearing military fatigues with his hands bound, mimicking explosions during an apparent interview with a Ukrainian official not pictured.
Ukrainian officials meanwhile sent to AFP images of IDs and bank cards apparently confiscated from the prisoners.
The war in Ukraine, now grinding through its fourth year, has attracted thousands of foreign fighters to both sides.
Ukraine has been urging its Western partners to respond to the Russian deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to the western region of Kursk.
Ukraine has been struggling to hold ground after launching an offensive on the border region last year.
“The North Koreans fought against us in the Kursk region, the Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine. And I think this is an important point that we need to discuss with our partners, I think urgently,” Zelensky added in the press conference.
Kyiv, which dispatched its then-foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba to China last year, has been seeking to deepen ties with Beijing, and Zelensky this week appointed a new ambassador to China.
