Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that at least 155 Chinese soldiers were fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Russia. Interrogation videos of two captured Chinese soldiers have emerged. One of the soldiers stated that it was his first time being in combat, saying, “I had never fired a weapon before this.” President Zelensky accused China of providing manpower to Russia by officially claiming that at least 155 Chinese citizens were involved in the conflict as fighters.
This statement came after the capture of two Chinese soldiers earlier this week. This declaration officially accused China of providing manpower to Russia. Zelensky stated that the soldiers received training, migration documents, and payment in Moscow before being sent to the Ukrainian battlefield.
It is alleged that Russia engaged Chinese citizens in the conflict through social media channels and that Beijing was aware of this situation. The video of the interrogation of a Chinese soldier was shared by Zelensky on social media. The soldiers speaking in Chinese recounted their backgrounds and how they were captured.
One of them mentioned that it was his first time in combat, saying, “I had never fired a weapon before this.” The other soldier, amidst chaos before being captured, stated that he was part of a group with two other Chinese soldiers but didn’t know if they were alive. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian advised the relevant parties to understand China’s role correctly and not make irresponsible statements.
Jian stated, “China is neither the creator nor the party of the crisis in Ukraine. We are a loyal supporter and active advocate for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.” According to the statement, China is urging its citizens, especially to refrain from participating in any party’s military operations. Previously, Beijing denied that the majority of its citizens were fighting for Russia and stated that the allegation had “no factual basis.”
Earlier this week, Zelensky announced that his forces had clashed with six Chinese soldiers in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine and had captured two of them. The Ukrainian leader emphasized the seriousness of the “Chinese issue” in his remarks to journalists.