Chinese soldiers fighting with Russians, Ukraine says

Soldiers captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russia in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to a Tuesday statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Initial intelligence suggested that many more Chinese citizens are fighting in Russia’s army, he added. Zelenskyy said the presence of Chinese soldiers proved Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to continue fighting. He called on the United States and Europe to respond to this development.

How does Ukraine know they’re Chinese citizens, rather than Russian citizens with Chinese heritage? Ukrainian officials found Chinese identification documents on the two captured soldiers, along with Chinese bank cards and passports, according to Zelenskyy. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha called on China’s diplomat to Ukraine to explain why Chinese citizens were found fighting for Ukraine before condemning such action. If Chinese citizens are truly fighting for Russia, that could undermine China’s previous declarations of peace and erode the credibility of a permanent UN Security Council member, Sybiha wrote.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Chinese officials had not formally commented on the situation.