Ukrainian authorities say that "at least several hundred Chinese citizens" have been recruited to fight alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war, with evidence suggesting the recruitment occurred within the past year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “Russia is attempting to prolong the war, including at the expense of Chinese lives.”
The report detailed how Chinese citizens regularly visited the enlistment center, with many flying to Moscow shortly before enlisting, some even joining the same day or the day after arrival.
The ages of the identified Chinese recruits range from 20 to 51.
Accounts from some Chinese volunteers depict grim experiences.
"In the two weeks I've been here, we've advanced only 100 meters. We've lost dozens of men and haven't retrieved their bodies," he said.
"There's no medical assistance here. Nobody cares. The pain is killing me," he said in a video posted in January 2024. Sun said that after examining him, doctors did not provide adequate treatment.
Sun alleged that the Chinese embassy dismissed his pleas for help.
"I contacted the Chinese embassy in Russia. They said it's my personal problem," said Sun, who reportedly commanded a group of Nepali soldiers.
Two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia, Wang Guangjun and Chang Renbo, were captured by Ukrainian forces in Ukraine's Donetsk region on April 8, according to Zelenskyy.
Interrogations by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) revealed one was recruited by Russian representatives in China, paying 300,000 rubles, and being promised Russian citizenship. His training in occupied Luhansk involved basic military skills without a translator, and he was assigned to an all-Chinese unit. His motivations included becoming a soldier and gaining Russian citizenship, noting some in his training group had criminal records in China. Due to the language barrier, comprehending the combat situation was difficult, and his group surrendered after sustaining losses.
The other came as a tourist in December 2024 and responded to an online advertisement offering a 2-million-ruble contract.
Zelenskyy alleged that social media platforms are being used by Russians to recruit Chinese citizens and asserted that "Official Beijing is aware of this."
Chinese authorities earlier this week denied involvement.
The United States has also expressed concern about previous reports. U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the reports as "disturbing" and noted China is a significant enabler of Russia’s war effort, providing nearly 80 percent of the dual-use items needed for Russian military operations.
The Kremlin earlier declined to comment on these allegations.