In a sharp escalation of tensions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has for the first time accused China of supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine—an allegation China has swiftly denied.
“We finally have information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy said at a press briefing in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy also alleged that Chinese representatives were involved in arms production inside Russian territory, sparking alarm over potential direct foreign involvement in the prolonged war.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs took to its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating:
China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict, and has kept its dual-use exports under strict control… China firmly opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation.”
Adding to the controversy, Ukraine revealed the capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Donetsk, which it described as the first official proof of Chinese participation on the battlefield.
President Zelenskyy claimed 155 Chinese citizens were documented as actively fighting for Russia, recruited through social media, trained in Moscow, and provided with migration documents and payment.
Ukraine believes that such blatant involvement of Chinese citizens… is a deliberate step towards the expansion of the war,” Zelenskyy warned.
A video posted by Zelenskyy shows the captured men speaking Mandarin. One admitted, “It was my first time on duty and first time in combat.”
As both nations maintain their stance, the revelations signal a deepening international dimension to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
