Ukraine-Russia war latest: Mercenaries from China, Pakistan and Africa fighting for Moscow, claims Zelensky
"We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defence of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles," the Ukrainian president said 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."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov played down the significance of Mr Trump's announcement last Friday that he had ordered two submarines to be moved to "the appropriate regions".
"In this case, it is obvious that American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process, that's the first thing," Mr Peskov said. "Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric."
Kremlin warns US over nuclear rhetoric after Trump moves submarines into region
The Kremlin has warned that everyone should be careful about nuclear rhetoric, after Donald Trump ordered a repositioning of US nuclear submarines.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov played down the significance of Mr Trump's announcement last Friday that he had ordered two submarines to be moved to "the appropriate regions".
The move came after former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made remarks about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries.
"In this case, it is obvious that American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process, that's the first thing," Mr Peskov said.
"But in general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such a controversy and would not want to comment on it in any way," he added.
"Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric."
Mr Peskov said that Russia did not see Mr Trump's statement as marking an escalation in nuclear tension.
He also declined to answer directly when asked whether the Kremlin had tried to warn Mr Medvedev to tone down his online altercation with the US president.
Arpan Rai5 August 2025 04:36
'Mercenaries' from China, Pakistan and other countries fighting for Russia, says Zelensky
Foreign 'mercenaries' from China, Pakistan and parts of Africa are fighting alongside Russian forces in Moscow's war in Ukraine, the war-hit country's president Volodymyr Zelensky said, vowing a response.
"We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defence of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles," Mr Zelensky 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,' Mr Zelensky said yesterday.
The Ukrainian president has previously accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese fighters for its war effort against Ukraine, charges Beijing denied, and had issued the first signs of North Korean soldiers fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region.
5 August 2025 04:06
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