President Zelenskyy claims fighters from China, Pakistan, and other nations are battling Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv, vowing a response to the diverse recruitment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that foreign "mercenaries" from China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and various African countries are fighting for Russia. The accusation came during a visit to front-line troops in the Kharkiv region on Monday. Zelenskyy’s unverified claims highlight the increasingly international composition of forces involved in the conflict as Ukraine battles a renewed Russian offensive.
The allegation was made after Zelenskyy met with soldiers from the 57th Brigade near the embattled town of Vovchansk. In a post on X, he detailed discussions on the "frontline situation" and vowed to "respond" to the presence of these foreign fighters. This follows previous Ukrainian accusations of Russian recruitment in China, which Beijing has denied, and known assistance from North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region.
At the time of reporting, the additional countries named by Zelenskyy had not commented on the allegations. Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford, reporting from Kyiv, noted that there was no way to independently verify the claims. He also added that, conversely, “lots of foreign fighters” have volunteered to fight on the Ukrainian side and remain on the front lines.
The claims come as Ukrainian forces are engaged in "ongoing heavy fighting" not only in Kharkiv but also around the town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Despite the battlefield intensity, diplomatic channels remain partially open. Zelenskyy recently announced an agreement brokered in Turkiye to exchange 1,200 prisoners of war between the two sides.
The conflict continues to be a focal point of international diplomacy. United States President Donald Trump has recently intensified his involvement, threatening “very severe tariffs” on Russia if a ceasefire is not reached soon. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to visit Russia on Wednesday to continue talks, placing immense pressure on Moscow to negotiate as it prosecutes its offensive.
While Ukraine battles to hold its ground in the northeast, its leadership is now publicly accusing Russia of drawing on a wide-ranging international pool of mercenaries. Though these claims are yet to be verified, they add a complex new layer to the conflict. The immediate future will be shaped by both the fierce fighting on the ground and the high-stakes diplomatic maneuvers being conducted by world powers.
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