At least 155 Chinese citizens are fighting on the side of Russia against Ukraine - Zelensky
Kyiv • UNN
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that 155 Chinese citizens are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine. Recruitment takes place through social networks, including TikTok.
At least 155 Chinese citizens are fighting against Ukraine on the side of Russia. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with journalists, reports UNN.
The "Chinese" issue is serious. There are 155 people with surnames, with passport data - 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine. We are collecting information, we believe there are more of them, many more. For these 155, there are passport details, where they are from, their Chinese documents, age, etc. Also, places of service: 70th, 71st, 255th motorized rifle regiments, etc.
The President also spoke about schemes for recruiting Chinese.
The scheme of how they recruit them is clear. One of the schemes is through social networks, in particular TikTok and other Chinese social networks, where Russians distribute commercials. Official Beijing knows about this. Russians distribute commercials about recruitment through Chinese social networks. Not secret recruitment - this is important. Maybe there is also secret recruitment. Then these people arrive in the Russian Federation, to Moscow. Medical examinations last 3-4 days. 1-2 months - training centers. They fight on the territory of Ukraine. They receive migration cards, as well as a card of the "Mir" payment system, to which they receive, respectively, money
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has two Chinese citizens in captivity.
"Two Chinese citizens who are with us: Wang Guangjun, born in 1991. Captured on April 4, 2025 - Bilohorivka, Donetsk region - by soldiers of the 81st separate Airmobile Brigade. Citizen of the People's Republic of China, Chang Renbo. Born on February 5, 1994. Captured on April 5, 2025 near Tarasivka, Donetsk region, by the 157th separate mechanized brigade," Zelenskyy said.
The President noted that these two were captured in the Donetsk direction.
We believe that others are in eastern Ukraine, but in fact we need to look. Here are two different villages, two different brigades. And the brigade, you know, holds a long enough section. These two were delivered to the Security Service in Kyiv. I think we will give journalists the opportunity to talk to them. I think it will be appropriate. They are more talkative than prisoners from North Korea, as far as we can see
The President also noted that there was a possibility that one prisoner from North Korea would not survive.
By the way, about them. We thought that one person there would not survive due to injuries. We performed the appropriate operations, they are alive and in Ukraine. We would like to exchange them. We are ready to exchange them only for Ukrainian soldiers who are in Russian captivity. We sent such a signal
Addition
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian soldiers captured two Chinese citizens in Donetsk region who fought as part of the Russian army. Currently, intelligence, the SBU, and relevant units of the Armed Forces are working with them.
Ukraine summoned the Charge d'Affaires of China in Kyiv over the participation of Chinese in the war on the side of Russia. The Foreign Ministry stressed that this undermines confidence in Beijing and casts doubt on their position on peace.
A spokeswoman for the US State Department indicated that Washington is aware that Ukraine has captured two Chinese citizens who fought on the side of Russia in Ukraine, calling it "alarming."