More than 100 Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine are acting as mercenaries and do not appear to have direct ties to Beijing, according to two U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports and a former Western intelligence official, Reuters reported on April 11.
The U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, described the fighters as poorly trained and having little impact on the battlefield. They do not believe the Chinese government has officially deployed them.
However, the former intelligence official told Reuters that Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval to observe and draw tactical lessons from the war.
On April 11, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least “several hundred” Chinese citizens are fighting on Russia‘s side in Ukraine. Two Chinese fighters were captured by Ukrainian forces in Donetsk Oblast.
One captured soldier…
