Prøve GULL - Gratis

Spy mission, rogue soldier or a warning to the West?

The Independent

|

April 10, 2025

Images of a Chinese man in uniform in Ukraine raise as many questions as they answer in this shadowy war

- MICHAEL SHERIDAN

The Chinese prisoner has a fearful expression as his Ukrainian captors train a video camera on him. He speaks in Mandarin, the common language of his homeland. His green uniform is like any regular soldier’s. But is it proof that China is fighting alongside the Russian army?

This is a hybrid war and while China has not disputed the facts, the boundaries of truth are cloaked in deniability. The incident – astutely publicised by Ukraine just as America is in a trade showdown with China – has illuminated the shadows of a very modern conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said his troops captured two Chinese citizens after a skirmish in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. They found identity documents, bank cards and other evidence of their nationality. In most armies that would be a severe security lapse.

Zelensky said his men engaged with a unit of six Chinese combatants. The fate of the other four was not mentioned. Andriy Kovalenko, a member of the National Security and Defence Council, called the captured fighters “mercenaries” but gave no more information.

One explanation is that the men are simply soldiers of fortune who caught a plane to Russia to escape boredom and penury at home. Just days ago, the correspondent of Le Monde in China, the highly experienced Harold Thibault, published an interview with a 37-year-old truck driver named “Fen” who went to seek adventure until he was wounded by a drone.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA The Independent

The Independent

The Independent

Britain must build its future in Europe, warns Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will lead Labour into the next general election as he argued for closer links with the EU, saying Britain is “turning its back” on the Brexit years.

time to read

2 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

Chief prosecutor warns the royals are not above the law

The UK’s top prosecutor has warned “nobody is above the law” as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces a police probe over alleged leaks to Jeffrey Epstein.

time to read

1 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

'Putin's goal is to break our defiance, but it won't work'

In Kyiv, Sam Kiley meets a politician whose daughter was born just before the Russian invasion and - alongside her family - is battling to survive as Putin targets power supplies

time to read

4 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

Starmer under pressure over journalist smears

Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to order an inquiry into a Labour think tank's investigation into journalists as he struggles to move on from the woes facing his premiership.

time to read

2 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

European Union hits back at Rubio's belittling tone

The European Union's foreign policy chief has rejected the suggestion that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” after Marco Rubio said America has no interest in being the “caretakers of the West's managed decline”.

time to read

2 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

Reform's Goodwin berated party's 'toxic' economy plan

The Reform candidate in an upcoming Westminster by-election once described his party’s economic plans as an “utterly toxic combination”.

time to read

2 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

Truth is 'dangerous weapon' against Russia, says Cooper

Foreign secretary hits back over Navalny 'frog poison' denial

time to read

3 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

This is a critical point for Ukraine – and for Europe

Almost four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the situation on the ground and in the diplomatic arena has become critical.

time to read

3 mins

February 16, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

Walking in the footsteps of wild Heathcliff and Cathy

As Emerald Fennell's much-anticipated version of the Brontë classic 'Wuthering Heights' hits cinemas, Emily-Ann Elliott heads to the real-life filming locations in the Yorkshire Dales

time to read

5 mins

February 15, 2026

The Independent

The Independent

Stop judging Zayn – it's right that our view of love evolves

Zayn Malik says he doesn’t think he was ever in love with supermodel Gigi Hadid throughout their six-year relationship and he’s being criticised heavily for shouting about it from the rooftops.

time to read

4 mins

February 15, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size