Camilla Jessen
Ukraine’s president claims over 150 Chinese citizens have been recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine.
Others are reading now
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed this week that Russia is actively recruiting Chinese nationals to its military ranks in Ukraine—largely through open campaigns on Chinese social media platforms like TikTok.
Speaking to Ukrinform reporters on April 9, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian authorities had identified several recruitment methods and confirmed that Beijing is aware of them.
These recruitment ads are publicly available, which is important to note,” Zelenskyy said. “There could also be covert recruitment happening.
The Recruitment Pipeline
According to Zelenskyy, the process begins online, where Russian-linked accounts promote enlistment through flashy videos and broker contacts. Those who respond are funneled through an organized system once they arrive in Russia.
They arrive in Moscow and undergo medical exams for three to four days,” Zelenskyy explained. “Then they spend one to two months in training centers before being deployed to Ukraine.
The recruits are reportedly provided with migration cards and Mir payment system cards to access their salaries.
Ukrainian intelligence has tracked at least 150 confirmed Chinese nationals who joined Russia’s war effort, though officials believe the actual number is significantly higher.
Captured Fighters and Financial Promises
Zelenskyy also referenced video evidence from Ukrainian security services showing interrogations of two captured Chinese nationals who had fought for Russia.
According to the president, Ukrainian authorities are investigating all the facts regarding the presence of these and other Chinese citizens in the ranks of the Russian occupation army.
In a previously reported case, a Chinese man captured near Bilohorivka admitted to paying around $3,500 (300,000 rubles) to a Chinese-based broker to join the Russian military. He was promised Russian citizenship as part of the deal.
China’s Role Under Scrutiny
Although Beijing has publicly denied any involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv claims that Russian recruitment of Chinese citizens is both intentional and escalating.
According to Zelenskyy:
This is further proof that Moscow seeks to prolong the war,
Ukrainian officials argue that Russia’s targeting of foreign nationals—especially from China—is a clear tactic to sustain its war effort without tapping deeper into its own population.
While the Kremlin remains silent on the issue, and Beijing denies any support for Russian military operations, Ukraine continues to press both nations for accountability.