Zelenskyy says several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that "at least several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting as part of Russia’s occupation forces," which shows that Russia is trying to prolong the war even at the cost of Chinese lives.
Source: Zelenskyy during the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format on 11 April
Quote: "As of now, we have information that at least several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting as part of Russia’s occupation forces. This means Russia is clearly trying to prolong the war – even by using Chinese lives. Putin wasn’t satisfied with soldiers from North Korea. Now he is trying to cover his shortages by pulling in yet another nation – the Chinese.
How long can he keep doing this? We must work together to make such questions not about Moscow’s choices, but about our joint pressure on Moscow – because that’s the only way it will work."
Read more: Zelenskyy posts video of interrogation of Chinese POWs captured in Donetsk Oblast – photos
Background:
- On 8 April, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian troops in Donetsk Oblast had captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting in the ranks of the Russian military. Zelenskyy also noted that he had instructed Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to urgently contact Beijing to determine how China intends to respond.
- The two citizens of the People's Republic of China were captured in Donetsk Oblast by soldiers from the 81st Separate Airborne Slobozhanska Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade.
- US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce stressed China's role in supporting Russian aggression after evidence had been published of Chinese citizens participating in the war against Ukraine.
- On 9 April, Zelenskyy said that 155 Chinese citizens were fighting against Ukraine on its territory, but there could be more.
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