Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday that his country's forces have identified 155 Chinese citizens allegedly fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.
At the press conference, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian intelligence has detailed information, including names, and that the actual number could be much higher.
“We're gathering more information and believe the actual number is much higher. For these 155, we have their passport data, place of origin, Chinese identification documents, age, and so on. We also know where they’re serving,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said that social media platforms such as TikTok and other Chinese networks are being used by Russians to recruit Chinese citizens.
“Official Beijing is aware of this,” Zelenskyy added. “It’s not covert recruitment—that’s important. Though there may also be covert efforts."
After being recruited, Chinese citizens reportedly arrive in Moscow, where they undergo medical examinations for three to four days, followed by one to two months of training at military centers, according to a Ukrainska Pravda report, citing government officials.
On Tuesday, Ukraine announced that it captured two Chinese nationals fighting on the Russian side.
According to Ukrainian officials, one of the captured fighters disclosed that he enlisted in the Russian army through an intermediary in China, paying 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,400) for the opportunity. He was allegedly promised Russian citizenship and underwent military training in the occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.
The training, focused on basic military skills, was conducted without a translator, with communication relying on gestures and phone translation apps. He reported being in a unit composed entirely of Chinese nationals. His motivations included becoming a soldier and gaining Russian citizenship. He also indicated that some in his training group had criminal records in China. Due to the language barrier, he struggled to understand the combat situation. After sustaining losses, his group surrendered.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded by stating that China “is verifying the information with the Ukrainian side” and has not deployed military personnel to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has summoned China's chargé d'affaires in Kyiv to address the alleged participation of Chinese citizens in hostilities against Ukrainian forces.
The United States has expressed concern over reports on the alleged involvement of Chinese citizens in active combat.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the reports as "disturbing" at an April 9 press conference. She also noted that China is a significant enabler of Russia in the war, providing nearly 80 percent of the dual-use items Russia needs for its military efforts.
“It’s disturbing with North Korea participating, it’s disturbing with the Chinese soldiers having been captured. We’re aware of those reports that Ukraine captured two Chinese citizens fighting on behalf of Russia in Ukraine. China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine,” Bruce said. “As President Trump has said, continued cooperation between these two nuclear powers will only further contribute to global instability and make the United States and other countries less safe, less secure, and less prosperous.”
The Kremlin declined to comment on the claims.
There are also reports indicating that a small number of Chinese nationals have joined the Ukrainian side. One of the first confirmed Chinese nationals to participate in the war was Peng Chenliang, a volunteer from China’s Yunnan Province, who joined Ukraine’s International Legion in April 2024. He was killed in action on Nov. 4, 2024.