Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals who were fighting for the Russian army in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
He said on Tuesday that intelligence suggested the number of Chinese soldiers in Russia's army was "much higher than two".
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Chinese troops fighting on Ukrainian territory "puts into question China's declared stance for peace" and added that their envoy in Kyiv was summoned for an explanation.
It is the first official allegation from Ukraine that China is supplying Russia with manpower. There has been no immediate response to the claims from Moscow or Beijing.
In a statement on social media platform X, Zelensky said the soldiers were captured in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region with identification documents, including bank cards which had "personal data" on them.
Ukraine's forces fought six Chinese soldiers and took two of them prisoner, he said.
The post was accompanied by a video showing one of the alleged Chinese captives in handcuffs, speaking Mandarin Chinese and apparently describing a recent battle.
"We have information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier's units than just these two," he said.
"Russia's involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war," Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian president called for a response "from the United States, Europe, and all those around the world who want peace".
An investigation is under way and the captives are currently in the custody of Ukraine's security service, he added.
On Tuesday, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called the reports "disturbing".
She added that China is a "major enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine, citing its supply of dual-use goods such as navigation equipment, semiconductor chips and jet parts.
Ukraine's foreign minister said that he had summoned China's chargé d'affaires in Kyiv to "demand an explanation".
Writing on X, Andrii Sybiha said: "We strongly condemn Russia's involvement of Chinese citizens in its war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as their participation in combat against Ukrainian forces." (Source: BBC)
