Beijing – China has firmly denied accusations made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleging the presence of Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The Chinese Foreign Ministry labeled the claim as “totally unfounded”, asserting that Beijing maintains a strict policy discouraging its citizens from participating in foreign armed conflicts.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated China’s stance, saying, “The Chinese government always asks Chinese citizens to stay away from conflict zones, avoid getting involved in any form of armed conflict, and especially refrain from participating in any party’s military operations”, as quoted by the Associated Press.
Zelenskyy had previously commented that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “ready to involve anyone in this war — any country, any foreigner — but not to end it”. The remarks have intensified the spotlight on foreign actors potentially aiding Russia’s war efforts as the conflict enters its third year.
Although China has not officially provided military aid or personnel to either side, it has maintained close economic and diplomatic ties with Moscow since the onset of the war in February 2022. China insists on a position of neutrality but has been criticized for offering indirect support to Russia, especially through robust trade relations, particularly in the energy and consumer goods sectors.
In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce weighed in, calling reports of captured Chinese fighters “disturbing”. She stated that the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation and added, “China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine. China provides nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war”.
NATO has similarly referred to China as a “decisive enabler” of Russian aggression—an accusation that Beijing has strongly rejected in the past.
Meanwhile, the ground situation in Ukraine remains volatile. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces launched 55 Shahed and decoy drones overnight, striking multiple regions. In Donetsk’s city of Kramatorsk, a drone attack injured an 11-year-old girl, her mother, and grandmother, according to regional governor Vadym Filashkin.
On the other side, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 158 Ukrainian drones across 11 Russian regions overnight. While there were no immediate reports of casualties, several airports were forced to suspend operations. Ukrainian drones reportedly reached as far as Russia’s Orenburg region—located nearly 1,200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
As spring approaches, military analysts believe both sides are gearing up for intensified offensives. With the front line stretching over 1,000 kilometers, the war remains locked in a deadly and grinding stalemate.
