The Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine are believed to be mercenaries acting on their own and not under orders from Beijing, according to U.S. officials cited by Reuters.
The U.S. officials told the news outlet that the Chinese fighters are poorly trained and have had little impact on the battlefield.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two Chinese nationals were recently captured in Donetsk. He claimed that there are over 150 Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
The Chinese government denied involvement in the ongoing conflict and urged all relevant parties to refrain from making “irresponsible” comments.
While sources claimed that the Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces are not supported by Beijing, a former intelligence official told Reuters that Chinese military officers have been observed near Russian frontlines.
Reports suggest that these officers are deployed to study tactical elements of the conflict and deepen their understanding of modern warfare. China’s military has not fought a major ground war since 1979, and the Ukraine conflict offers a chance to study real-time tactics and weapons systems.
Since the war began in 2022, China has significantly increased its purchases of Russian oil and gas, while also supplying dual-use goods. According to Western officials, these exports are helping to sustain Russia’s weapons production.
Aside from China, Russia has recruited foreign fighters from other countries as well, including India, Nepal, and Syria. Earlier reports claimed that North Korea has sent as many as 12,000 troops to help Russia.
