Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed on Tuesday that Chinese citizens are working at a drone production site in Russia, raising concerns that Moscow may have illegally acquired drone technology from China.
The statement comes just days after Zelenskiy made his first public accusation that China was supplying Russia with weapons and gunpowder—a claim Beijing strongly denies.
Speaking at a Kyiv press conference, Zelenskiy hinted that the Chinese government might not be aware of the involvement of its citizens, suggesting that Russia could have obtained drone technologies independently or through unauthorized channels.
This subtle shift in tone appears to be an effort to distinguish between the Chinese state and individuals possibly acting without official consent, amid ongoing international diplomacy aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy previously stated that Russia had been recruiting Chinese nationals through social media to join its military, alleging that Chinese officials were aware of this activity. He said Ukraine is currently verifying whether these individuals are acting under Chinese government orders.
To address the issue, Zelenskiy said he had directed Ukraine’s Security Service to share detailed intelligence with Chinese authorities. “We believe it’s possible that Russia either stole or bypassed official agreements to gain this technology,” he said.
Neither Moscow nor Beijing has issued a response to the latest accusations. While China continues to position itself as neutral, it has called for restraint and criticized what it termed “irresponsible remarks.”
China and Russia declared a “no limits” partnership just days before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.