Ukrainian Intelligence Reveals Over 160 Chinese Nationals Fighting in Russian Army as Russia Intensifies Offensive Operations in Sumy-Kursk Border Area and Launches Massive Drone Strikes Across Multiple Regions While Ukraine Strikes Strategic Military Airfield in North Ossetia
Summary of the Day — April 9, 2025
The once murky question of direct Chinese military involvement in Ukraine has crystallized into a harsh reality. Ukrainian intelligence revealed today that at least 163 Chinese nationals are fighting in the Russian army, a claim confirmed by President Zelensky himself, who stated that evidence exists for 155 Chinese citizens fighting against Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their creeping advances in northern Ukraine and along the Sumy-Kursk Oblast border, signaling what Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi has described as the effective start of Russia’s spring offensive. Ukrainian forces struck deep into Russian territory, reportedly targeting a military airfield in Mozdok, North Ossetia, among a wave of 158 drones hitting multiple regions. Ukrainian long-range strikes have reduced Russian artillery fire by nearly half, down from 40,000 daily shells to around 27,000, while Russia’s oil revenue tumbles to critical levels following global price drops. On the diplomatic front, the European Union approved a new €1 billion financial assistance package for Ukraine, while Kyiv announced it has fulfilled 81% of its commitments under the EU Association Agreement. Ukraine has also demonstrated its willingness to negotiate, with Zelensky offering to pay up to $50 billion for a comprehensive U.S. military aid package and expressing openness to a minerals deal with Washington—provided it respects Ukrainian sovereignty.
Damaged vehicles are seen in front of a residential building hit by a Russian drone attack in Dnipro, Ukraine. The strike wounded 15 people, eight of whom remain in the hospital.(Danyil Nikolaenko / Suspilne Ukraine / JSC “UA:PBC” /Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
The Chinese Contingent: Intelligence Reveals Scale of Beijing’s Direct Involvement
Ukraine’s intelligence services revealed today that at least 163 Chinese nationals are currently serving in Russia’s Armed Forces, a claim immediately confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who stated Ukraine has documented evidence of 155 Chinese citizens fighting against Ukrainian forces.
“We are collecting information, we believe that there are many more,” Zelensky told journalists on April 9, adding that Ukrainian authorities possess passport data, origins, and other identifying information for these fighters.
According to Zelensky, Chinese soldiers have been serving with Russia’s 70th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, the 255th Rifle Division, and other units. This revelation follows the April 8 capture of two Chinese nationals—identified as Wang Guangjun and Zhang Renbo, born in 1991 and 1998 respectively—while fighting for Russian forces near Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Tarasivka in Donetsk Oblast.
One of the captured soldiers claimed he paid 300,000 rubles (roughly $3,500) to a middleman in China to join the Russian military in exchange for promised Russian citizenship. He reportedly received training in occupied Luhansk Oblast alongside other Chinese nationals, learning basic military skills through hand gestures and mobile translation apps due to language barriers.
“Beijing knows about this. Russians distribute advertising videos about recruitment through Chinese social networks,” Zelensky asserted, suggesting high-level Chinese awareness of the recruitment program.
Beijing continues to deny official involvement. The Chinese Foreign Ministry insisted on April 9 that China did not deploy military personnel to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, emphasizing that the government “consistently urges its citizens to avoid involvement in armed conflicts.”
“The Offensive Has Already Begun”: Russia’s Spring Campaign Intensifies in Northeastern Ukraine
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Russia’s anticipated spring offensive in northeastern Ukraine “has actually already begun,” validating earlier warnings from President Zelensky about Moscow’s military buildup along the borders of Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.
“I can say that the president is absolutely right, and this offensive has effectively already begun,” Syrskyi stated in an interview with Ukrainian outlet LB.UA published on April 9. “For nearly a week, Russian offensive operations have almost doubled in all main sectors.”
Russian forces continue marginal advances in the Sumy-Kursk Oblast border area, with gradual but consistent gains along the Volodymyrivka-Zhuravka-Novenke line north to northeast of Sumy City. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported that elements of the Russian 76th Airborne Division and 83rd Airborne Brigade recently seized Basivka and are attempting to advance toward Loknya to interdict the H-07 Yunkivka-Sudzha highway.
Mashovets estimated approximately 62,000 to 65,000 Russian troops and border guards currently operating in Kursk Oblast. “Today, more than 67,000 Russian soldiers are located in the Kursk direction. Russia completed the relocation for an attack in the Sumy direction,” Zelensky confirmed.
According to Syrskyi, Russia’s current force grouping in the area is likely attempting to form a buffer zone along the international border in Sumy Oblast, though commanders may intend to press further toward Sumy City in the future. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly asked Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov during a March 12 visit to a Russian command post in Kursk Oblast to “think in the future about creating a security zone” along the Ukrainian-Russian international border.
“Paying For Protection”: Zelensky Offers $50 Billion for U.S. Military Aid Package
In a bold strategic pivot, President Zelensky revealed that Ukraine is ready to pay up to $50 billion for a comprehensive future military aid package from the United States, signaling Kyiv’s determination to secure long-term American support despite shifting political winds in Washington.
“We handed over to the American side a large package that we want to buy. To buy in one form or another,” Zelensky told journalists. “Many different formats and tools that we are ready for. We were ready to find both $30 billion and $50 billion for a suitable package.”
Ukraine sees the purchase of such a package—which would include critically needed air defense systems—as a potential security guarantee from Washington. “There is an agreement, we are giving money. Accordingly, if you want we can pay either to this Reconstruction Investment Fund, or to you directly. It makes no difference to us,” Zelensky said.
The proposal comes as U.S. military assistance to Kyiv has noticeably decreased, with European countries now providing the main portion of aid, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. While the funds allocated under the Biden administration have not yet been exhausted, Kyiv is looking ahead to secure commitments from the Trump administration, which has yet to sign off on any new packages.
The Biting Toll of Long-Range Warfare: Ukrainian Strikes Cut Russian Artillery Fire Almost in Half
Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian ammunition stockpiles have proven remarkably effective, causing Russian artillery shell fire rates to drop by almost half, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi revealed in his April 9 interview.
“Russian soldiers used to fire around 40,000 rounds of ammunition daily, but a series of long-range attacks reduced this number to around 23,000,” Syrskyi stated. Though Russia’s fire rate has since risen slightly to between 27,000 and 28,000 rounds per day—possibly due to supplies from North Korea or Iran, or increased domestic production—the reduction represents a significant operational victory for Ukrainian forces.
Syrskyi also highlighted Ukraine’s expanding drone capabilities, noting that the country has developed long-range strike drones with ranges exceeding 1,700 kilometers. He pointed to a recent successful strike on a Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bomber worth $100 million as it landed at a Russian airbase after a combat mission. Additionally, Ukrainian forces have developed tactical fiber-optic strike drones with ranges up to 20 kilometers, with plans to scale up production over the next three months.
Deep Strike Capability: Ukraine’s Drones Target Military Airfield in North Ossetia
In a demonstration of Ukraine’s expanding strategic reach, a massive Ukrainian drone attack reportedly targeted a Russian military airfield in Mozdok, North Ossetia, from which MiG-31K carriers of Kinzhal hypersonic missiles are deployed. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on April 9 that their forces had to intercept 158 Ukrainian drones across occupied Crimea and multiple Russian regions overnight.
Russian Telegram channel Astra reported that the drones specifically targeted the Mozdok airfield, with social media posts showing images of smoke rising near the area. The channel geolocated one image to a site approximately 6 kilometers from the air base. North Ossetia is located roughly 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, marking one of the deepest Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory to date.
Regional head Sergey Menyaylo claimed air defenses “repelled” the attack in the Mozdok district, insisting there were no casualties or visible damage despite confirming implementation of a drone attack alert. Explosions were also reported in Taganrog in Rostov Oblast, Tikhoretsk, Sloviansk-on-Kuban, Krymsk, Saratov, and Engels, according to Russian media. The airports of Vladikavkaz and Grozny, the capitals of Russia’s republics of North Ossetia and Chechnya, were reportedly closed because of the attacks.
Unintended Consequences: Trump’s Tariffs Batter Russian Oil Revenue
In an ironic twist of economic warfare, U.S. President Donald Trump’s global “Liberation Day” tariff policy has inadvertently struck a blow against Russia’s war finances by triggering a collapse in global oil prices that threatens to deplete Moscow’s war chest.
The price of Russian Urals oil tumbled to a 21-month low of $51.54 per barrel on April 7—far below the $70 per barrel that Russia budgeted for in its 2025 financial planning. The Kremlin is now monitoring what it calls an “extremely turbulent, tense” situation, according to spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“Our economic authorities are monitoring this situation very closely and, of course, are doing and will do everything necessary to minimize the consequences of this international economic storm for our economy,” Peskov told Interfax on April 7.
The precipitous drop threatens Russia’s ability to fund its massive war expenditures, which account for approximately 32% of the 2025 budget. Oil revenues constitute around 30% of Russia’s total state budget, making this price collapse potentially catastrophic for Russian war financing should it continue.
Energy analysts suggest that if oil prices remain below $70 per barrel over the long term, it could force Moscow to seek a truce with Ukraine more quickly. “Russia’s National Wealth Fund would be depleted faster, and Russia would need a truce quicker,” noted Warsaw-based energy analyst Wojciech Jakóbik.
A New Weapon in Ukraine’s Arsenal: Domestic Drone Interceptor Makes Combat Debut
Ukraine unveiled a domestically developed drone specifically designed to intercept and destroy Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia, with designers claiming the system has already destroyed more than 20 Shahed-type drones over the past two months.
Ukraine’s drone designed to intercept and destroy Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia was shown in Kyiv. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
According to its designers, this is the most effective interceptor drone currently in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The system is also capable of targeting reconnaissance drones. With a maximum flight speed of 200 kilometers per hour and operational altitude up to 5 kilometers, the interceptor provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional air defense systems that rely on expensive anti-aircraft missiles.
The Ukrainian drone was showcased to Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever during his visit to Kyiv on April 8. This development marks a significant step in Ukraine’s efforts to develop high-performance, low-cost domestic defense technologies to improve protection and reduce dependence on Western-supplied missile systems.
President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart de Wever in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Diplomatic Dancing: Zelensky Signals Openness to U.S. Minerals Deal on Equal Terms
President Zelensky indicated that Ukraine is open to signing a minerals deal with the United States, but only if it ensures equal partnership and respects Ukrainian sovereignty. “If this is about true partnership, then we need to talk about parity. It must be 50/50,” Zelensky emphasized, outlining a key condition that will be presented by the Ukrainian technical team during negotiations.
According to Zelensky, a prospective agreement could help modernize Ukraine’s economy, rebuild the country after the war, and create jobs through joint ventures involving high-tech American companies. He described Ukraine as ready to contribute its land and resources, but expecting the U.S. to bring in technologies and capital.
Zelensky also recounted an exchange with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had allegedly urged Kyiv to sign a preliminary deal immediately. “I told him to stop tapping his finger on the contract and to speak concretely,” Zelensky said, adding that the proposal was not ready and some provisions contradicted Ukrainian law.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in Brussels, Belgium. (Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal/X)
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine is now in formal negotiations with the U.S. and has formed a special delegation at the technical level that will travel to Washington later this week. Shmyhal emphasized that Ukraine has “clear red lines” that cannot be crossed, including adherence to the Ukrainian constitution and alignment with Ukraine’s European integration and international legal obligations.
Ceasefire Horizons: New Rounds of Talks Planned with Time Limits as Key Leverage
The U.S. will hold new ceasefire talks with Russia and Ukraine in separate meetings in the coming weeks, with time limitations serving as a crucial element to exert pressure on Moscow, President Zelensky revealed on April 9.
“I believe that in the coming weeks there will be a meeting between the Americans and the Russians and between the Americans and the Ukrainians,” Zelensky said. “I believe that certain time limits will provide opportunities to put pressure on Russia. If you have a ceasefire for an unclear period—it is a frozen conflict.”
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine believes any ceasefire will likely be violated by Russia, making an unconditional agreement with swift consequences for violations essential. “The most important thing the American side can do is a complete and unconditional ceasefire,” he stated.
According to Zelensky, the United States has pledged decisive action if a ceasefire is not reached. “If they do not succeed, they promised to take strong corresponding steps. What those steps will be, I don’t know. They know that sanctions and military support for Ukraine are important to us. We will wait for these two steps.”
Europe’s Sustained Support: EU Approves €1 Billion Aid Package as Ukraine Advances on Association Agreement
The European Union is allocating another financial assistance tranche of 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) as part of the G7 loan program for Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on April 9 after meeting EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in Brussels.
“We are grateful to our partners for supporting the economy and the rapid recovery of our country,” Shmyhal said. The funds are part of the G7’s $50 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loan that will be repaid with proceeds from frozen Russian assets.
“We are delivering on our promise to support Ukraine,” Dombrovskis said. “This provides crucial financing to Ukraine and makes Russia pay for its aggression.”
On the integration front, Ukraine has fulfilled 81% of its commitments made under the Association Agreement with the European Union, Shmyhal reported following the 10th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council. He highlighted progress in customs, intellectual property rights, education, information exchange, humanitarian policy, justice, public procurement, and national security.
“Once again, we are demonstrating that we are able to make our way to EU membership quickly and efficiently. This year, we aim to open all six clusters in the EU accession negotiations and deepen sectoral integration,” Shmyhal stated. He expressed confidence that Ukraine could achieve significant results in European integration “not in years, but in months” and expects to join the bloc after the end of the war.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Cos praised Ukraine’s efforts, saying “the progress is undeniable” and confirming the ambition to open all clusters by 2025.
Digital Disinformation: Czech Prime Minister’s Social Media Account Hacked with False Russian Attack Claims
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s X account was hacked on April 9, leading to the publication of false posts including a claim that Russian troops had attacked Czech forces near Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.
“The post about the attack on Czech soldiers is not true,” government spokesperson Lucie Michut Jesatkova confirmed. Kaliningrad, a heavily militarized Russian territory wedged between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, does not share a border with Czechia, which lies further southwest in Central Europe.
The false post appeared designed to stoke panic or provoke confusion amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia. Czechia has been one of Ukraine’s strongest backers since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, supplying military aid including tanks and artillery, accepting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, and consistently supporting EU and NATO sanctions against Moscow.
Looking Ahead: Europe Prepares for Potential Peacekeeping Mission
Even as ceasefire talks loom on the horizon, Ukraine’s key allies are set to meet on April 10 to continue discussions on a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine that would be activated should a peace deal be reached with Russia.
Led by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and U.K. Defense Minister John Healey, the meeting will take place at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The coalition includes European countries, Canada, and Australia, though notably excludes the United States.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of foreign troops’ presence across land, air, and sea to ensure lasting peace. “We discuss foreign troops’ presence on land, in the sky, and at sea. Air defense, as well as other delicate strategic issues. Our partners understand what Ukraine needs,” he stated.
According to Pavlo Palisa, Ukraine’s chief defense adviser, about a dozen countries could be willing to join the coalition and send troops to Ukraine. “There is also talk of the participation of the Baltic and Nordic countries,” Palisa told reporters, noting that the proposed mission would require comprehensive planning, including air defense systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and protection for naval forces.
As the war enters its fourth spring with no end in sight, the international community’s willingness to commit to a future peacekeeping mission may prove critical to securing any eventual settlement that can protect Ukraine’s sovereignty while providing meaningful security guarantees against future Russian aggression.