4 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Captive Chinese soldiers appear before the press in Kyiv

Republicans increase pressure on Trump after 35 killed in Sumy, with US president calling for ‘death and destruction to stop’. What we know on day 1,147Ukraine held a press conference with Chinese soldiers captured on the frontline after Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of recruiting fighters from China using social media. The men were led into a press centre handcuffed and flanked by armed Ukrainian guards and it was unclear if they were speaking of their own volition. The pair told journalists they hoped to be part of a prisoner swap.Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has accused Moscow of dragging Beijing into its invasion, saying that several hundred Chinese nationals were fighting at the frontline. The Kremlin has denied it claim while Beijing has warned parties to the conflict against making “irresponsible remarks”.Zelenskyy accused Vladimir Putin of remaining focused on continuing the war, saying Russia had openly refused to engage in ceasefire talks. “There is only one re...

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4 d. ago ‘Do you want to show strength here?’: Russia’s ads recruiting Chinese mercenaries

More than 150 Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, recruited via videos on social mediaThe videos are across Chinese social media. Some are slickly produced Russian propaganda about being “tough” men; some sound more like influencer advertisements for a working holiday. Others are cobbled-together screenshots by regular citizens about to leave China. But they all have one thing in common: selling the benefits of becoming a Chinese mercenary for Russia.On Tuesday, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced that two Chinese nationals had been captured in the eastern Donetsk region and accused Moscow of trying to involve China “directly or indirectly” in the conflict. A day later, he said the men were among at least 155 other Chinese members of Russia’s armed forces. Continue reading...

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4 d. ago Ukraine says 150 Chinese troops fighting for Russia days after capturing two soldiers

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army on Ukrainian soil

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4 d. ago More than 150 Chinese mercenaries 'recruited on Tiktok' are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Zelensky claims

The Ukrainian president accused the Kremlin of recruiting fighters from China by advertising on social media, but Beijing has branded the allegations ‘totally unfounded’

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5 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US ‘very surprised’ after Chinese fighters captured on frontline

Ukraine president says more than 150 Chinese involved in fighting for Russia; US lawmakers criticise reports of planned troop pullbacks in Europe. What we know on day 1,142See all our Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the recruitment of Chinese nationals to fight for Russia, adding he believed the US was “very surprised” by the revelation. The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv has obtained passport details of at least 155 fighters from China in the war. While Zelenskyy said Beijing knew its citizens were there, he didn’t believe the country had given “some kind of command” they join the fight.Zelenskyy added he believes Russia is using social media, including TikTok, to recruit. He said he was prepared to exchange captured Chinese soldiers with Ukrainian servicemen in detention.China called those claims “groundless”, saying they are contrary to an effort to find a political solution to the ongoing war. “The Chinese government always asks Chin...

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5 d. ago More than 150 Chinese mercenaries recruited by Putin fighting against Ukraine, says Zelensky

President accuses Kremlin of recruiting people on social media with Beijing’s knowledge

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5 d. ago China turning blind eye to its citizens fighting in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s president says at least 155 fighters have been uncovered, and that Russia is recruiting via social mediaVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is aware of at least 155 Chinese nationals fighting for Russia and accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to their recruitment and allowing them to participate in the invasion of his country.Officials released two dossiers naming, and in some cases picturing, Chinese men who were said to have signed up, though Ukraine did not suggest this meant Beijing was seeking to enter the war alongside Russia. Continue reading...

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5 d. ago Ukraine says more than 150 Chinese nationals fighting for Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Beijing of doing nothing to stop Moscow enlisting its citizens

Politics

5 d. ago What the capture of Chinese soldiers says about Beijing’s role in Ukraine

The emergence of Chinese combatants in Donetsk – astutely publicised by Ukraine just as America is in a trade showdown with China – has illuminated the shadows of a very modern conflict, writes Michael Sheridan

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5 d. ago Beijing rejects Ukraine's claim significant numbers of Chinese troops are fighting alongside Russia

A Beijing official says Ukraine’s claim that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting alongside Russia’s invading army in Ukraine is “totally unfounded.”

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6 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy demands answers over Chinese nationals fighting for Russia

The Ukrainian president says the Chinese nationals were just two of many fighting with Russian forces. What we know on day 1,141Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government is seeking clarification from Beijing after Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting with Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region.Zelenskyy said the captured fighters were two of many more Chinese members of the Russian armed forces, and he accused the Kremlin of trying to involve Beijing in the conflict “directly or indirectly”. A few hundred Chinese nationals are thought to have travelled to fight as mercenaries with the Russian army alongside others from Nepal and central Asian countries.US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called the development “disturbing”, adding: “China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine.”Russian forces staged massive drone attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Dnipro and Kharkiv late on Tuesday, triggering fires and injuring at least 17 people, region...

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6 d. ago Chinese troops captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s president claims he has information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Many more’ Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia claims Zelensky after two captured

Ukraine’s forces battled with six Chinese troops in the Donetsk region, the Ukrainian president said, sharing footage of one of the supposed Chinese prisoners with his hands zip tied together on X

Events

6 d. ago Ukraine captures Chinese soldiers on frontlines amid rising Russian tensions

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed new cross-border operations into Russia and demanded answers from Beijing.

Events

6 d. ago Two Chinese nationals caught fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian president says men’s capture shows Moscow is trying to involve Beijing in the war ‘directly or indirectly’Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting with the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.They are two of what Ukraine’s president described as many more Chinese members of the Russian armed forces, and their capture prompted him to accuse the Kremlin of trying to involve Beijing in the conflict “directly or indirectly”. Continue reading...

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6 d. ago Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy – Europe live

Ukrainian president says forces captured two Chinese men fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine and calls for response from BeijingThe US administration is reportedly considering withdrawing up to 10,000 US soldiers from central and eastern Europe, according to a report by US broadcaster NBC News.The unconfirmed plans are understood to be looking at reducing US presence in Poland and Romania, despite what regional leaders see as a growing threat from increasingly aggressive Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Zelenskyy says Chinese men fighting for Russia captured in Ukraine

Ukrainian president demands explanation and accuses Beijing of actively participating in Moscow’s war

Politics

6 d. ago Ukraine's Zelenskyy says 2 Chinese were caught fighting for Russia

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Ukrainian military has captured two Chinese men fighting with the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region

Events

6 d. ago 'CHINESE soldiers' are captured by Ukraine while fighting for Russia: Zelensky shows video of POW and alleges major escalation

Zelensky said Ukraine had information that there were 'significantly more Chinese citizens' still among the Russian units, adding: 'We are currently clarifying all the facts.'

Events

6 d. ago Chinese troops captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, says Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian officials have been ordered to obtain an official explanation from China

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