The cost:
Zelensky and the Prime Minister of Belgium honored the memory of Ukrainian defenders in Kyiv.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 6:50 AM
The Ukrainians captured two Chinese Soldiers. From the reporting it is unclear if they killed the four others or they got away.
During a battle in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian defenders captured two Chinese servicemembers who were fighting as part of the Russian army. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this during a meeting with media representatives.
“We captured Chinese servicemembers on Ukrainian territory. Ukrainians engaged in combat with six Chinese servicemembers in the Donetsk region – in Tarasivka and Bilohorivka. Two were taken prisoner. Accordingly, their identification documents, passports, and even their credit cards were found in their possession. These are Chinese citizens,” the Head of State said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he had instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense to contact China for clarification.
“This is yet another country providing military support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Another after Iran and after North Korean troops. But there is a difference: North Koreans fought against us in the Kursk direction, while the Chinese are fighting on Ukrainian territory. I think this is an important issue that we need to discuss with our partners,” the President emphasized.
The captured Chinese citizens are now in the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine. Relevant investigative and operational actions are ongoing.
The war will continue to rise in intensity and expand in geography until the West supplies democratic Ukraine with full military support so that it can defeat fascist Russia more quickly.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Ukrainian troops have captured two Chinese nationals who were fighting in the ranks of the Russian military against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 8.
“We have information that there are much more than two such Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units,” Zelensky said. “We have the documents of these prisoners, bank cards, personal data.”
Ukrainian troops clashed with six Chinese soldiers near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka in Donetsk Oblast, according to the president.
The two captured are being held by Ukraine’s Security Service, according to Zelensky. He instructed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to urgently contact Beijing to determine how Chinese officials will respond.
Sybiha said that Ukraine had summoned China’s charge d’affaires to express condemnation and demand an explanation regarding the matter.
“Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council,” the minister posted on X.
Zelensky emphasized the apparent recruitment of Chinese nationals — whether direct or indirect — highlights the Kremlin’s commitment to continuing its aggression.
“We definitely need a reaction to this. A reaction from the United States, Europe and everyone in the world who wants peace,” he said.
Zelensky added that China is another country, along with Iran and North Korea, that supports Russia in its war against Ukraine.
“But there is a difference: the North Koreans fought against us in the Kursk direction, the Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine,” the president said at a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever.
Today’s capture of Chinese troops deep in Ukraine is just part of another worrying trend which Europeans still fail to grasp.
Here’s more Chinese troops in Eastern Ukraine a few weeks ago, from Russian channels.
— Jay in Kyiv (@jayinkyiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
“I understand that we are a strong country, but we cannot fight multiple countries at once, each wanting something from our land.” – Zelensky.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM
President Zelenskyy met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever today. There is no address to the Ukrainian people, but here is their joint press conference:
Georgia:
Regime prisoner families will soon hold a 24-hour-long protest at the Parliament. They want to prevent the regime from laying flowers at the April 9 martyrs’ memorial tomorrow.
36 years later on April 9, we are still struggling for independence from Russia. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
“GD is the same regime that carried out the April 9 massacre,” say students preparing to march to Rustaveli for tonight’s 24-hour protest.
36 years ago tomorrow, Russian troops killed 21 peaceful protesters in Tbilisi—mostly young women.
Day 132 of daily #GeorgiaProtests.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The struggle for freedom from Russia simply never ends, because Russia would rather kill you and then kill itself rather than allow anyone to be happy.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
A media solidarity march is being held in Tbilisi to protest the repressive laws adopted by Georgian Dream, which aim to restrict and ultimately shut down the work of the critical media.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 12:48 PM
From last night’s protest:
Police detained three protesters on Rustaveli Ave. According to the Deputy Director of the Patrol Police, officers were clearing the road when the protesters “did not comply” with the order. Footage from the scene shows the detentions occurred on the sidewalk.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Back to Ukraine.
The drone designed to intercept Shaheds has been shown to the public for the first time. It operates at altitudes of up to 5 km and reaches speeds of up to 200 km/h.
In just two months of operation, it has shot down over 20 Shahed drones and nearly 10 reconnaissance UAVs.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Kramatorsk:
Kramatorsk right now. Russia attacked the city with drones, targeting residential buildings.
#Ukraine— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Kharkiv has once again been attacked several times today.
Situation in Kharkiv right now:
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
‼️As you read this, Kharkiv is enduring yet another massive russian drone attack. Over 10 explosions reported in the city.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 3:38 PM
In Kharkiv, there was a strike in the Kyivskyi district, resulting in a fire. Information regarding casualties and damage is being clarified.
— Mayor Terekhov— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
3rd and 4th super loud explosion in Kharkiv ‼️ these aren’t drones, you guys. These are missiles
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Kharkiv tonight.
Massive russian drone attack. over 20 explosions.— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Russia hit Kharkiv with 20 drones. 17 strikes on ONE neighborhood. Civilians are being hunted—and the world still mumbles about “diplomacy”? Wake the hell up!
#Ukraine— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
One of the Russian strikes on Kharkiv tonight hit… a waste sorting facility.
Nearby private homes were also damaged.
Russians defeated tincans, i guess 🤷♀️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The Kursk cross border offensive.
🔥Ukraine’s General Staff reported an Air Force strike on Russian military storage in Ozerky, Kursk region, on April 7. Hangars, buildings, and equipment were destroyed. Over 30 occupiers, including UAV crews and repair staff, were eliminated.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
An airstrike on Russians in Hoptarivka, Kursk region.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The Oksil River, Kharkiv Oblast:
The occupiers drowned in an armored vehicle near Kupiansk while attempting to cross the Oskil River.
“Recently, the occupiers tried to cross the waterway near the village of Matiusivka, but their BMP-2 along with its crew — sank.” – reported the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material.
Pets are also victims of this terrible war. This is the town of Stepnohirsk, near the frontline south of Zaporizhzhia. Despite the destruction, many cats and dogs still live in these buildings, so the Hachiko team brings them food and water. It’s a quick visit to avoid Russian bombs…
— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Open thread!
something fabulous – Hands Off! – LA!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Ukraine will become an arsenal of the West.
The US will be a footnote.
piratedan
Any idea on why China would supply V lad with troops? Especially confusing since Putin is using DJT as a stalking horse to fuck over China’s economic engine with US Tariffs? Assume that there are layers here I don’t grasp, but have a hard time understanding why China would actually supply troops to risk their plausible deniability in taking an overtly active part.
karen gail
The Chinese? and still the people in Ukraine continue to fight while Europe stands and watches. Putin wants to conquer all of Europe; it isn’t a new dream it has been in place since the Romanov’s ruled.
Thanks for wading through the daily horror show put on by Russia; bad enough that Trump sees him as a role model.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@piratedan: We don’t know yet if these are actual Chinese military or they’re a bunch of mercenaries.
Adam L Silverman
@karen gail: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welome.
YY_Sima Qian
@piratedan: There are close to 100 PRC citizens who have signed contracts w/ the Russian Army. There are also single digit number of PRC citizens fighting on the Ukrainian side.
Former Chinese state media report Chai Jing (now in self-imposed exile in the US) just published interviews w/ the PRC citizens fighting on the 2 sides, links to YT videos here & here. (Unfortunately, Chinese language only w/ Chinese subtitles.)
Based on the interviews & social media posts, the PRC citizens fighting on the Russian side tend to be adventure seekers & desperados (escaping debt, a consequence of the economic weakness in the PRC in recent years), now facing the consequences of their choices in Ukraine. They’ve raged against the dysfunction, corruption, brutality, & lack of support in the Russian Military, having their contracts extended indefinitely w/o means to extricate themselves, & being shortchanged on pay. Some have even asked the PRC Embassy in Moscow for help, & the response was that these PRC citizens acted on their own individual accord, against expressed PRC policy warning against its citizens from joint the war on either side, so there is nothing the Embassy can do. FAFO, basically. Several PRC citizens have died in Russian service.
The few PRC citizens fighting for Ukraine tend to be more idealistic. They have also formed intense bonds of camaraderie w/ the few Taiwanese (ROC) citizens fighting for Ukraine, due to the cultural affinity in a foreign land among foreign peoples, under extreme duress & perilous circumstances. All of the PRC & ROC citizens interviewed by Chai had served in the International Legion, also complained of the disorganization (especially due to language barriers) & lack of support. PRC & ROC citizens serving in regular Ukrainian Army units seemed to have had better experiences. At least 1 PRC & 2 ROC citizens have died in Ukrainian service.
Interestingly, PRC (& ROC) citizens serving both sides have concluded that they are being used as cannon fodder in the war of attrition, & have come to terms w/ that. None of them want to be called “mercenaries”.
When a PRC citizen in Russian service posted on Chinese social media about another PRC citizen KIA, & raged at the inability to recover the body or the lack of KIA notification from the Russian authorities to the families, a PRC citizen in Ukrainian service responded on Chinese social media that Putin uses & tosses the foreign troops like dogs, while Ukraine honors the international volunteers who gave their lives in service of Ukraine, & that is clear evidence of the side that is just in this war.
I highly doubt the PRC is sending any PLA or even PAP (paramilitary) troops to Russia, to fight in Ukraine, & certainly not on the front lines. I suspect Zelenskyy is frustrated that the PRC government has been unwilling to put pressure on Putin to negotiate in good faith, despite some positive vibes from recent bilateral meetings, but no one has that much leverage over Putin. Unfortunately, as the Sino-US Cold War intensifies, now escalating into trade & possibly financial warfare under Trump, Russia’s utility to the PRC in this struggle only gains greater currency.
Jay
So, Chinese, not the first, not the last.
A). a crapload of Chinese work in ruZZia, because the money is a little better. SMO contracts, (meat cube) are now in some areas, 20x better to meet quota’s. Roughly $120K USD a year in a country where median is $780 USD a year.
B). China has sent in some military to gain combat experience.
YY_Sima Qian
@Jay:
I don’t think there has been any evidence for that. Observers, maybe, but no evidence of that either.
YY_Sima Qian
@Jay:
Number of PRC citizens working in Russia has collapsed after the “SMO” (well, since the late ’10s), the economic opportunities are not there, anymore. No reports of PRC citizens being scammed or press ganged into Russia service, unlike Indians & Africans.
One of the PRC citizens fighting for Russia, interviewed by Chai, claimed pay to be 120,000 rubles / mo., or just over RMB¥ 10K / mo., or ~ US$ 1.5K / mo. Not bad money by Chinese standards, but not that much better than being a service sector employee or a delivery driver, certainly not commensurate w/ the risks.
Like I said, adventure seekers & desperados.
Jay
@YY_Sima Qian:
It’s a maybe.
Nobody outside ruZZia, Ukraine or the NORK’s have experience a war like this.
The norms would be that a “observer” would be at ruZZian HQ, but actions show that ruZZain HQ has no clue
YY_Sima Qian
@YY_Sima Qian: One of the PRC citizens in Russian service claimed that he agreed to the interview w/ Chai hoping to dissuade other Chinese adventure seekers & desperados from following his footsteps, while the PRC citizen in Ukrainian service claimed that he agreed to the interview hoping to inspire other Chinese w/ a sense of justice & righteousness to follow his path.
One of the PRC citizen who had died in Ukrainian service was arrested in the PRC for posting on X messages critical of the Russian re-invasion of Ukraine, the PRC’s lean toward Russia, & specific denunciations of Putin, posts that had little engagement. The local police detained him for 7 mo. on charges of “causing trouble & disturbing the peace online”. He got out early by pleading metal illness, on the advice of his attorney. As soon as he got out, he went to Ukraine, by way of Poland, to fight.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam, and thank you, YY_Sima Qian.
YY_Sima Qian
@Jay:
Yeah, one of the PRC citizens who served in Ukraine (now back in the PRC looking to start a normal life) was also a member of the French Foreign Legion, & had fought in some of the “bush wars” (probably Mali & Niger) that the Legion had been sent to. He said Ukraine is nothing like the wars he had ever experienced prior.
klokanek
De-lurking to show appreciation for the title of this post, since I’d already seen headlines and I love dark humor
TeezySkeezy
sab
@YY_Sima Qian: Every country has people who want to be mercenaries . With a population of 1.4 billion, PRC probably has its share. Numbers normal for its population, but shocking to smaller countries.
Unknown known
@YY_Sima Qian: I came to the comments because I thought you might chip in with context. You did the opposite of disappointing. Thanks so much for your insight. I don’t know where else I would find this.
YY_Sima Qian
@Unknown known: Glad to be of service.
Bill Arnold
In case it is not covered in tonight’s post:
Flying Aircraft Carriers: Ukraine Refines FPV Mothership Tactics (David Hambling, Apr 09, 2025, Forbes)
Sample, much more at the link. A serious arms race.
YY_Sima Qian
Looks like a desperado to me: