Latest news with #81stSeparateAirborneBrigade
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Over 100 Chinese citizens reportedly fight on Russia's side but have no ties with Beijing
More than a hundred Chinese citizens fighting on the side of Russia against Ukraine are mercenaries and, according to US intelligence, have no direct connection to the Chinese government. Source: Reuters with reference to two US officials familiar with the US intelligence findings and a former Western intelligence official Details: The latter said that about 200 Chinese mercenaries are fighting for Russia and have no connection to the Chinese government. However, he said, Chinese military officers are near the Russian front line with Beijing's permission to "draw tactical lessons from the war". US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Chinese fighters appear to have minimal training and no discernible impact on Russia's military operations. Previously: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that at least several hundred Chinese citizens are fighting as part of the Russian occupation forces. Read more: Background: On 8 April, Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese citizens who had fought in the Russian army in Donetsk Oblast. Zelenskyy instructed the foreign minister to immediately contact Beijing and find out how China was going to respond. It is known that two citizens of the People's Republic of China were captured in Donetsk Oblast by soldiers of the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade of the Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade. US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, in response to the evidence of Chinese citizens' involvement in the war against Ukraine, emphasised China's role in supporting Russian aggression. On 9 April, the Zelenskyy said that 155 Chinese citizens were fighting against Ukraine on its territory, but there might be more. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese Foreign Ministry claims to know nothing about 155 of their citizens fighting on Russia's side
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it was unaware of more than 155 Chinese citizens who, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, are fighting against Ukraine. Source: Suspilne, a Ukrainian public broadcaster, with reference to a briefing by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian Details: Suspilne noted that, commenting on a journalist's question about the presence of so many Chinese citizens in the Russo-Ukrainian war, Lin Jian said that he supposedly had nothing to share. Lin Jian also stressed that Beijing's position on Russia's war against Ukraine was objective and fair. Quote: "Let me emphasise that China's position on the Ukrainian crisis [as he referred to the Russo-Ukrainian war – ed.] is objective and fair. We are committed to promoting a ceasefire and peaceful negotiations. This is very clear to the international community." Background: On 8 April, Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese citizens who had fought in the Russian army in Donetsk Oblast. Zelenskyy instructed the foreign minister to immediately contact Beijing and find out how China was going to respond. It is known that two citizens of the People's Republic of China were captured in Donetsk Oblast by soldiers of the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade of the Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, in response to the evidence of Chinese citizens' involvement in the war against Ukraine, emphasised China's role in supporting Russian aggression. On 9 April, Zelenskyy said that 155 Chinese citizens are fighting against Ukraine on its territory, but there might be Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy: We are ready to exchange Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity
Ukraine is ready to exchange the captured Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers currently held in Russian captivity, and a corresponding signal has been sent. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with journalists; Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "We thought that one of them wouldn't survive due to injuries. They underwent appropriate surgeries, and they are alive and currently in Ukraine. We would like to exchange them. We are ready to exchange them only for Ukrainian soldiers who are in Russian captivity. We have sent this signal." Details: The captured Chinese citizens are Wang Guanzhun, 33, captured on 4 April 2025 in the village of Bilohorivka, Donetsk Oblast, by the soldiers of the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade, and Zhang Renbo, 26, captured on 5 April 2025 near the village of Tarasivka, Donetsk Oblast, by the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade. Zelenskyy reported that these two Chinese nationals had been brought to the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv. "I think we will give journalists the opportunity to speak with them. I think it will be appropriate. They are more talkative than the prisoners from North Korea, as we can see," the president added. Background: On 8 April, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian troops in Donetsk Oblast had captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting in the ranks of the Russian military. Zelenskyy also noted that he had instructed Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to urgently contact Beijing to determine how China intends to respond. The two citizens of the People's Republic of China were captured in Donetsk Oblast by soldiers from the 81st Separate Airborne Slobozhanska Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade. A Chinese citizen captured by Ukrainian forces during the fighting near the settlement of Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast revealed that he joined the Russian military through an intermediary in China, paying RUB 300,000 (approximately US$3,480). His motivation was the promise of Russian citizenship. He underwent military training in occupied Luhansk Oblast, where he had no interpreter, relying instead on gestures and a phone to communicate. Beijing, in response to reports of the capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Ukraine, said it was checking the information and stressed that it had consistently urged its citizens to refrain from participating in any form of armed conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that 155 Chinese nationals are fighting against Ukraine on its territory, although the number may be higher. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
