High losses in the Ukraine war are forcing Russia to increasingly resort to mercenaries. Reports indicate deaths of Chinese fighters.
Moscow/Kiev – Russian President Vladimir Putin sees himself under increasing pressure in view of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military reports huge losses to the Russian army. How the US magazine Newsweek reported in August that Putin has already lost two-thirds of the troops he had before the war. In view of these losses, the Russian head of state is apparently increasingly relying on mercenaries to maintain his effectiveness. Recent reports from social media indicate that Chinese citizens are now said to have fought at the front – and died in the process.
Chinese soldiers in the Ukraine war: “Boys from China. Good guys, great fighters”
Although citizens of several countries have fought for Russia since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, there is no solid evidence that Chinese nationals are among them. According to a post on the social media platform X, two Chinese fighters are now said to have died. On October 1, the account “PS01△” published a screenshot of a message history from a Telegram channel, alongside photos of two young men in military uniform. The X account wrote in the caption: “Ukrainian armed forces killed two Chinese mercenaries, according to Russian channels.”
“Sprite and Coke. Boys from China. Good guys, great fighters. Died…” it says in the Telegram messages. It should be loud Newsweek This is the Telegram channel of the pro-war volunteer group “ZOVNovoshakhtinsk”. The group was described earlier this year by a Russian media outlet as “an initiative group of volunteer wives, sisters and relatives of mobilized residents of Novoshakhtinsk” who died, reported Newsweek. The X post information could not be independently verified.
China in the Ukraine War: Secret Support for Russia?
China is positioning itself as neutral in the Ukraine war, but has strengthened its relations with Moscow, reports Newsweek. Beijing denies supplying weapons to Russia, but Ukraine claims that Chinese dual-use technologies have been integrated into Russian military weapons. A Reutersreport also suggests that Chinese researchers helped Russia develop deadlier military drones.
Heavy losses for Putin in the Ukraine war: Volunteer corps for more soldiers
At the beginning of the year, Russia set up an official volunteer corps. At that time, the Russian army reported Chinese mercenaries fighting for Russia. “There is no language barrier! A volunteer from the People’s Republic of China communicates with the commander of the Interbrigade ‘Pyatnashka’ using an online translator,” said a Telegram message from Russian military correspondent Pavel Kukushkin. That reported Newsweek Beginning of March. It was not possible to determine with certainty whether the person really came from China.
The US Department of Defense wrote two years ago that Russian officers were allegedly recruiting Syrian mercenaries. One official said it was notable that Putin “has to rely on foreign fighters to supplement.” Ukrainian intelligence wrote in February about alleged recruitments due to the alleged high Russian losses.
According to the US trade magazine National interest Vladimir Putin is under increasing pressure to recruit more men for the attack on Ukraine, which violates international law. The Kremlin boss is hesitant to send conscripts to war for fear of possible social unrest. (lw)
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