President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that Ukrainian forces in northeastern Ukraine were battling foreign “mercenaries” from countries, including China, Pakistan, and regions of Africa, and he pledged a response.
Zelenskyy has previously accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese fighters for its war effort against Ukraine, charges Beijing denied, while North Korea has also provided thousands of its own troops in Russia’s Kursk region.
“We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defence of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles,” Zelenskyy wrote on X after visiting a frontline area in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
“Our warriors in this sector are reporting the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war. We will respond.”
Reuters contacted the embassies of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan in Kyiv to request comment.
Russia did not immediately comment publicly on Zelenskyy’s comments.
Who Are Foreign ‘Mercenaries’?
According to Ukrainian military and intelligence sources, foreign mercenaries are believed to be operating under the umbrella of Russian private military companies (PMCs) like the Wagner Group or newly formed units affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defence.
These groups have a track record of recruiting fighters from economically disadvantaged or politically unstable regions, particularly in Africa and Asia, where Russian diplomatic and military footprints have grown in recent years.
While neither China nor Pakistan has officially confirmed the presence of their nationals in Ukraine fighting for Russia, Ukrainian officials maintain that battlefield evidence, including captured documents and communications intercepts, points to a diverse group of foreign combatants.
Some may have been lured by promises of high pay, while others could be motivated by ideology or coerced through debt or economic hardship.
In previous instances, Russia has used foreign fighters in Syria, Libya, and parts of Africa to advance its strategic goals with plausible deniability.
The alleged use of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine would follow a similar pattern, complicating accountability and allowing the Kremlin to augment its manpower without full-scale mobilisation, according to experts.
(With inputs from Reuters and IBNS)
