In addition to mercenaries: Chinese officers apparently also in the war zone with state approval

Tagesspiegel In addition to mercenaries: Chinese officers apparently also in the war zone with state approval 4 hours • 2 minutes reading time Last week, a Chinese mercenary was captured for the first time on the front lines in Ukraine. But Beijing has apparently also officially deployed soldiers as war observers. According to US sources, more than 100 Chinese citizens are fighting as mercenaries for the Russian military against Ukraine without direct ties to the Chinese state. The Chinese mercenaries apparently have minimal training and no discernible influence on Russian military operations, according to two insiders familiar with US intelligence. A former Western intelligence official told Reuters that around 200 Chinese mercenaries are serving for Russia without orders from their home country. In contrast, Chinese officers, with the approval of their government, are studying the war near the Russian front lines. These are soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Officially, however, China always emphasizes its neutrality in the conflict. Last week, for the first time, Chinese-born fighters were captured on the front lines by Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country's intelligence service had information on 155 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Ukraine. However, it is believed that the number is ultimately many more. Russia is recruiting Chinese citizens via internet platforms. Chinese officials are aware of this. The Ukrainian Security Service has compiled lists of names, dates of birth, and the Russian military units to which they are assigned. He said he hoped the US would discuss this with Russia. Foreign citizens, including some Chinese, are also fighting on the Ukrainian side. However, Kyiv consistently emphasizes that these are volunteers, not mercenaries. They support Ukraine for ideological or other reasons and are not primarily motivated by money. Russia, on the other hand, recruits fighters from poor countries with high rewards. The West has also sent military observers to the country to study the war on the ground. (Trf, Reuters)