China calls to protect rights of citizens fighting for Russia in Ukraine
Chinese prisoners of war (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
China responded to reports of its citizens participating in the war against Ukraine on Russia's side and called for ensuring their rights, according to a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, cited by Global Times.
According to the spokesperson, Beijing demands that the Ukrainian side guarantee the protection of the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens, as well as ensure their humane treatment in accordance with international law.
He added that China has repeatedly issued safety advisories, urging its citizens to stay away from conflict zones and avoid participation in conflicts in any form, including refraining from joining the armed forces of any side.
What preceded this
Recently, the head of the Secretariat of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Bohdan Okhrimenko, said that two Chinese citizens who fought on Russia's side and were captured remain in Ukraine.
He shared that at present the two Chinese nationals are being held in a pre-trial detention center of the Security Service of Ukraine, although they were captured back in the spring of 2025. The Russian side shows no interest in them.
Earlier, Ukrainian forces captured these Chinese citizens in one of the directions in the Donetsk region. Later, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy published a video of their interrogation, where one of the prisoners said he had followed the orders of a Russian commander.
According to Zelenskyy, Russians recruit foreigners, including Chinese, via TikTok. Ukraine is ready to exchange them, but only for Ukrainian servicemen held in Russian captivity.
According to media reports, more than 100 Chinese citizens may be fighting on Russia's side in the war against Ukraine, and they have no direct connection to the Chinese government.
