President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday the capture of two Chinese nationals reportedly fighting for the Russian Armed Forces in the first update of its kind.
Zelensky, in a Telegram update that includes the interrogation of one of the Chinese men captured, said the two soldiers were captured in Ukraine’s Donetsk region with their personal documents, including bank cards.
Zelensky said Kyiv is aware of more Chinese nationals fighting for Moscow, adding that Ukrainian authorities are working to establish the situation.
“We have information that there are significantly more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than two. We are currently clarifying all the facts. Intelligence, the [Security Service of Ukraine] SBU, and the relevant units of the Armed Forces are working,” Zelensky said, adding that the two men are under the SBU’s custody
To be honest, this should not be surprising. The question though is did they volunteer or were they Chinese military ordered to fight for Russia.
It’s also a possibility that they’re part of the various PMCs: Wagner Group, Redut, Convoy, Patriot, Yastreb, Rusich, Tsarist Wolves, or the Russian Imperial Movement
That have been sighted or associated with activities in Ukraine - as national volunteers are getting (relatively) fancy signing up bonuses, it wouldn’t surprise me if some outside of Russia see it as an opportunity.
Good point. I an disappointed that I didn’t think of that possibility myself.