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Investing.com -- Over one hundred Chinese individuals fighting alongside the Russian military in Ukraine appear to be mercenaries with no direct ties to the Chinese government, according to two U.S. officials familiar with American intelligence and a former Western intelligence official, as reported by Reuters. Despite this, Chinese military officers have been present in the area behind Russia's lines, with Beijing's approval, to learn tactical lessons from the ongoing conflict.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, confirmed on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had detained two men of Chinese origin in eastern Ukraine. This followed a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that his country had information about 155 Chinese citizens fighting on Russia's behalf.
China, which has declared a "no-limits" partnership with Russia and has refrained from criticizing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, labeled Zelenskiy's comments as "irresponsible". China maintains that it is not a party to the war.
The U.S. officials, who spoke anonymously, stated that the Chinese fighters seem to have minimal training and are not notably affecting Russia's military operations.
The former Western intelligence official, who has knowledge on the matter, informed that there were about 200 Chinese mercenaries fighting for Russia, with no connection to the Chinese government. However, Chinese military officers have been touring near Russia's frontlines with Beijing's approval, to learn war tactics.
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