How China’s role in Ukraine differs from North Korea’s state-backed war effort



Analysis How China’s role in Ukraine differs from North Korea’s state-backed war effort Experts say Kyiv is using capture of Chinese mercenaries to argue Russia is aligned with both Pyongyang and Beijing Anton Sokolin April 11, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Passports belonging to two Chinese soldiers captured by the Ukrainian military in Donbas in April, 2025 \| Image: Screengrab from footage by Volodymyr Zelensky via Facebook The capture of two Chinese soldiers by Ukrainian forces in Donbas has drawn new attention to the scope and character of foreign involvement in Russia’s war, prompting Kyiv to publicly link Beijing with Pyongyang and Tehran as backers of Moscow’s military campaign. However, the alleged presence of 150 Chinese soldiers, many reportedly self-enlisted and driven by promises of Russian citizenship, stands in stark contrast to North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war. The capture of two Chinese soldiers by Ukrainian forces in Donbas has drawn new attention to the scope and character of foreign involvement in Russia’s war, prompting Kyiv to publicly link Beijing with Pyongyang and Tehran as backers of Moscow’s military campaign. However, the alleged presence of 150 Chinese soldiers, many reportedly self-enlisted and driven by promises of Russian citizenship, stands in stark contrast to North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Analysis

How China’s role in Ukraine differs from North Korea’s state-backed war effort

Experts say Kyiv is using capture of Chinese mercenaries to argue Russia is aligned with both Pyongyang and Beijing

Anton Sokolin April 11, 2025

How China’s role in Ukraine differs from North Korea’s state-backed war effort

Passports belonging to two Chinese soldiers captured by the Ukrainian military in Donbas in April, 2025 | Image: Screengrab from footage by Volodymyr Zelensky via Facebook

The capture of two Chinese soldiers by Ukrainian forces in Donbas has drawn new attention to the scope and character of foreign involvement in Russia’s war, prompting Kyiv to publicly link Beijing with Pyongyang and Tehran as backers of Moscow’s military campaign.

However, the alleged presence of 150 Chinese soldiers, many reportedly self-enlisted and driven by promises of Russian citizenship, stands in stark contrast to North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war.

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting

Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.

Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.

How China’s role in Ukraine differs from North Korea’s state-backed war effort

Try unlimited accessOnly $1 for four weeks

Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most –

as selected by

One more step!

Trending

Recent Stories

About the Author

Anton Sokolin

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

Start your day with
the North Korea stories that matter most –