Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly raised concerns about the presence of Chinese citizens at a drone manufacturing site in Russia, suggesting that sensitive Chinese technology may have been used without Beijing’s formal approval. Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv on April 22, Zelenskyy said that information gathered by Ukrainian intelligence has been shared with Chinese authorities through official diplomatic channels.
According to the Ukrainian president, individuals from China are believed to be working at a drone production facility inside Russia. He also stated that Russia may have either obtained Chinese drone technology through unofficial agreements or potentially taken it without the knowledge of the Chinese government. This marks a more nuanced tone than his earlier accusation that China had supplied weapons and gunpowder to Moscow—an allegation Beijing has strongly denied.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded by summoning China’s Ambassador Ma Shengkun to express concerns about Chinese citizens’ involvement in the conflict. In a formal statement, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis urged China to take action to halt any support for Russia’s military campaign, citing a lack of visible measures from Beijing to prevent this activity.
Ukrainian authorities have also reported that at least 155 Chinese nationals are believed to be fighting alongside Russian forces, two of whom have reportedly been captured. In addition to combat roles, Ukraine alleges that Chinese companies are involved in producing military equipment within Russia.
China’s Foreign Ministry responded by rejecting the allegations, stating that Beijing strictly controls dual-use exports and has never provided lethal aid to any party involved in the conflict. Officials further described the Ukrainian claims as “groundless” and warned against political manipulation.
The accusations come amid a renewed wave of Russian drone strikes across Ukraine. On April 23, drone attacks killed at least seven people in the city of Marhanets and injured dozens more across several regions including Poltava, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia. Fires damaged homes, warehouses, and infrastructure, and Ukrainian air defense systems were active in the Kyiv area.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations are set to continue in London, where representatives from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are expected to meet. General Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, will attend, although Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not be present. Media reports suggest that a proposed agreement may involve Russia relinquishing claims to Ukrainian territories it does not currently control, potentially creating a de facto ceasefire along existing front lines.
While official responses from Moscow remain limited, the situation highlights the growing complexities surrounding foreign involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. As international actors continue to balance diplomacy, military strategy, and trade ties, Kyiv’s latest claims have introduced new diplomatic tensions between China and Ukraine—two nations that had maintained cautious but functional relations before the war.
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