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At Least 51 Chinese Nationals Recruited by Russian Military in Moscow Over One-Year Period
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![Maryna_kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
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Between June 2023 and May 2024, at least 51 Chinese nationals enlisted in the Russian military through a recruitment center in Moscow, according to an investigation by Important Stories, which obtained data on foreign contract soldiers.
The data shows that Chinese citizens appeared at the enlistment office almost every month. The highest number—eight—signed up in July 2023. In total, 31 Chinese nationals joined in 2023, and 20 more followed in the first five months of 2024.
Most of them flew to Moscow shortly before visiting the recruitment office—some within two days, at least seven just a day before, and one on the same day. Four individuals reportedly left Russia shortly after their visit to the recruitment center.
The youngest known recruit was 20 years old; the oldest, 51. The fate of most remains unknown, but at least one has been confirmed killed. Ukrainian media reported the death of 38-year-old Rui Zhao, who signed a contract in late September 2023 and was killed in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region that December.
Some of the recruits reportedly arrived in pairs. Investigators found that 38-year-old Minliang Wang and 43-year-old Daocheng Li arrived in Russia on the same flight and visited the recruitment office together two days later. Several other recruits have reportedly been injured, while some have already returned to China.
Temur Umarov, a China specialist at the Carnegie Russia-Eurasia Center in Berlin, believes the Chinese government may not have been aware of their participation due to the small number involved.
“These citizens could have voluntarily signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense to make money or resolve legal issues. China has no ban on leaving the country—any citizen with funds and no outstanding debts can travel abroad, and entering Russia is relatively easy,” Umarov explained.
On April 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Donetsk. He also claimed Ukraine had intelligence on Chinese citizens serving in other Russian units, though he offered no details. Zelenskyy later said that, based on available intelligence, as many as 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia, with some reportedly recruited via social media.
