UPDATE: |Chinese troops captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy News

Ukraine’s president claims he has information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that the Ukrainian military has captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region.

Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv, Mr Zelenskyy added he has information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces.

Mr Zelenskyy said he asked his top diplomat “to immediately contact Beijing”, and is awaiting a response.

The Ukranian leader explained that a clash with Chinese soldiers occurred near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka in Donetsk, where six Chinese military personnel engaged Ukrainian troops.

Two Chinese were taken prisoner, Mr Zelenskyy stated.

Russia allows foreigners to enlist in its military, as does Ukraine, but this development will spark concern in the US after Donald Trump threatened to impose a 104 per cent tariff on Beijing’s exports.

China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

Beijing has also offered an economic lifeline through the trade in energy and consumer goods, but the Chinese government is not known to have provided Russia with any weapons or military expertise.

Posting on X, Mr Zelenskyy wrote: “Our military has captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting as part of the Russian army.

“This happened on Ukrainian territory — in the Donetsk region. Identification documents, bank cards, and personal data were found in their possession.”

He added: “We have information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two.

“We are currently verifying all the facts — intelligence, the security service of Ukraine and the relevant units of the armed forces are working on it.”

Russia has effectively rejected a US proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting in Ukraine, and both sides are believed to be readying a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield.

“I cannot see any indications that would lead to a ceasefire or even a peace, but I see many indications (for) the continuation of the war,” Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis in Washington, said in an analysis on Monday.