Overview

• Zelensky visited front-line troops in the Kharkiv region on August 4 and was informed that fighters from China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and several African nations are supporting Russian forces.
• He confirmed the presence of North Korean troops on the battlefield, matching earlier reports of their deployment in Russia’s Kursk region.
• Ukraine’s military has captured and interrogated two Chinese nationals in the Donetsk region and released passport images and interrogation footage as evidence of foreign recruitment.
• Independent journalists report they cannot verify the full extent of these mercenary claims, and the Chinese government has formally denied recruiting fighters for Russia.
• Zelenskyy urged Western allies to increase military aid to address Russia’s manpower shortages and pledged to pursue legal action against identified mercenaries.