China urges citizens in Russia to be careful after new law requiring foreigners to serve in military - ISW
China warned its citizens in Russia over new military service law (photo: Getty Images)
China warned its citizens living in Russia about a new law requiring foreigners to serve in the Russian armed forces, according to a report of the Institute for the Study of War.
Hong Kong publication South China Morning Post reported on February 26 that the Chinese Consulate in Russia called on Chinese citizens living in Russia to "take note of" a new Russian law adopted in November 2025.
It requires male permanent residents aged 18 to 65 to complete at least one year of service in the Russian army in order to apply for Russian citizenship or a residence permit.
This law provides exceptions for:
- Citizens of Belarus;
- Men who provide proof that they have already fulfilled requirement of service in the Russian army;
- Men who provide documents from Russian military conscription and recruitment centers stating that they are unfit for military service.
Russian state media at that time did not disclose these aspects of the decree.
It is noted that the consulate of China did not directly warn its citizens about the dangers of serving in the Russian army, but urged them to "make prudent decisions" to "ensure lawful residency status in Russia".
According to analysts, a warning from the consulate is a sign that China may be concerned that Russia will force its citizens living in Russia to perform military service under this law.
Russia conducted raids against migrants with expired permits or without documents and forced them into military service under threat of criminal prosecution or deportation.
Forcing foreigners to serve in the Russian army as a condition for obtaining a residence permit or citizenship is a significant strengthening of the army recruitment mechanisms.
The Institute for the Study of War recently recorded signs that the Kremlin is preparing to call up reservists to compensate for manpower shortages due to slowing recruitment into the Russian army.
Chinese in the Russian war against Ukraine
In April last year, more than 100 citizens of China were fighting on the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine.
According to two United States officials and a former Western intelligence employee, Chinese fighting on the side of Russian forces are mercenaries. Apparently, they have no direct ties to the government of China. A former official also specified that about 200 Chinese mercenaries are fighting on the side of Russia.
At the same time, Chinese military officers, with the approval of Beijing, were present in the theater of combat operations in the rear of Russia to draw tactical lessons from the war.
In 2025 Ukrainian military captured two Chinese in one of directions in the Donetsk region. Soon after, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed a video with prisoners.
Zelenskyy recently said that Russians recruit Chinese through TikTok. He also said that Ukraine is ready to exchange prisoners, but only in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity.
According to the adviser to the head of the Office of the President, Mykhailo Podolyak, involvement of fighters from the People’s Republic of China in the army may have serious consequences for China. He explained that after this, Beijing may lose markets most needed for it.
