Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday accused Russia of working systematically in China to recruit fighters for its war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said this a few days after announcing that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese men fighting for Moscow.
Meanwhile, China had warned Ukraine on Thursday against making irresponsible remarks after Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence had revealed no fewer than 155 Chinese citizens were fighting for Russia.
“It is crystal clear that these are not isolated cases but rather systematic Russian efforts, in particular on the territory and within the jurisdiction of China, to recruit citizens of that country for the war,” Zelenskiy wrote on X, referring to the captured men.
The Ukrainian leader posted footage of an interrogation with one of the men who were captured.
“Everything necessary must be done to ensure that Russia has no such and similar opportunities to prolong and expand the war,” Zelenskiy added.
Responding, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Zelenskyy’s claim and described Beijing as taking a balanced position.
