Ukrainian forces have confirmed they had fought against six Chinese soldiers and two of them ended up being taken prisoner, President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced
Two Chinese soldiers have been captured in eastern Ukraine fighting for Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed. Ukrainian forces have confirmed they had fought six Chinese soldiers and two of them had been taken prisoner. “We have information that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just two. We are now finding out all the facts- intelligence, the security service of Ukraine and the relevant units of the armed forces are working on it,” Zelensky said. The Ukranian leader has demanded an explanation from Beijing, who are an ally of Russia, and have been accused of helping the Kremlin in the war against Ukraine.
“Russia’s involvement of China in this war in Europe, directly or indirectly, is a clear signal that Putin is going to do anything but end the war,” Zelensky said. “He is looking for ways to continue the war. This definitely requires a response. A response from the United States, Europe, and all those around the world who want peace.”
China has denied helping Russia and refuted allegations it has supplied Putin with weapons. President Zelensky said he expects the US to react after posting a video of Chinese soliders who are believed to have joined Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian foreign minister has also condemned the involvement of Chinese troops following the video. “Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Kyiv’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
It comes as North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February in continued support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, South Korea’s military said last week.
North Korea has sent approximately 11,000 military personnel to fight in the war against Ukraine. The Joint Chiefs assessed that around 4,000 of them have been killed or wounded. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has also been sending more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia. The military equipment North Korea has sent to Russia includes a “considerable amount” of short-range ballistic missiles, 170 millimeter self-propelled howitzers and around 220 units of 240 millimeter multiple rocket launchers.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service previously attributed the high North Korean casualties to the troops’ likely struggles in adapting to drones and other elements of modern warfare. North Korean troops are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders, who have sent them into assault campaigns without providing rear-fire support, the spy agency told lawmakers in January.
As The Mirror’s Defence and Security Editor I have covered war and terror at home and abroad for more than 20 years.
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