China denied claims that it is aware of its citizens fighting in Ukraine.

The Zelensky government claimed that at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that evidence had been obtained that Chinese citizens were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, while China denied allegations that officials in Beijing were aware of this situation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described the allegations as "irresponsible statements" at a press conference in Beijing. Lin told reporters, without directly mentioning Zelensky or Ukraine, "We advise the relevant parties to recognize China's role accurately and clearly." Lin stated that Beijing has always advised its citizens to avoid any foreign conflicts and specifically dissuaded Chinese citizens from participating in foreign military operations. The Chinese government's statement came after Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukraine had evidence that at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting alongside Russia on Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian president had announced the day before that his country’s army had captured two Chinese nationals on the battlefield. Following the capture of the Chinese citizens, Zelensky said that officials in Beijing were aware of Russia's campaign to recruit Chinese mercenaries, but did not provide evidence to support the claim. Moreover, he refrained from saying that the Chinese government allowed mercenaries to participate in the war. Zelensky indicated that Ukraine had surnames and passport information of 155 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian army, stating, "We believe their numbers are much higher." Zelensky shared documents with journalists that included the names, passport numbers, and personal details of the alleged Chinese soldiers, as well as when they arrived in Russia for military training and when they departed for service. Since the launch of its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, China has provided strong diplomatic support to Russia. While China has always maintained its neutrality in the conflict, Russia heavily uses Chinese-made components in arms production, similar to Ukraine. Both sides utilize Mavic drones produced by Shenzhen-based technology company DJI, but Ukraine has taken steps to reduce its dependency on equipment from China. It is not thought that China deliberately provides soldiers, weapons, or military expertise to Russia. While Iran directly supplies drones to Russia, U.S. and South Korean officials state that North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers and ammunition to assist Russia on the battlefield. Tensions between the U.S. and China have deepened in recent years, focusing on disputes over geopolitical influence, technology, and trade, along with recently increased import tariffs. Zelensky noted that U.S. officials expressed their "shock" when they became aware of the presence of Chinese mercenaries in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to fulfill his campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, but these efforts have so far been unsuccessful.