The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022 and has now been fought for more than three years, the war has not stopped, and both sides have paid a high price. On the Russian side, the number of military casualties is terrifyingly high, and the economy has also been stifled by Western sanctions. Just in the summer of 2023, the Ukrainian army began to counter-attack, and the Bergorod region on the Russian border was also attacked, at which time there were public screams in the Russian media, hoping that China would help the troops.
The person who said this was Olga Skabyeva, the host of Russian state television. She bluntly said on the program that if China sent 3 million troops to support it, Russia could quickly win the battle. As soon as these words came out, they immediately exploded in the international arena, because China-Russia relations are inherently sensitive, and everyone is staring at whether China will get involved.
It was around June 2023, when the Russian army advanced slowly in eastern Ukraine, and the weapons on the Ukrainian side, with the help of the West, remained stable. Belgorod region is the Russian mainland, close to the Ukrainian border, where several attacks took place from late May to early June.
Some pro-Ukrainian armed groups crossed the border from Ukraine and attacked local outposts and villages. The Russian army quickly sent people to block them, but the response was a bit slow, exposing the problem of insufficient border defense forces. The governor reported shelling, residents had to be evacuated and schools closed. The Russian Air Force dispatched aircraft to bomb, but it didn't completely stop the chaos. This incident made people in Russia flustered, and the media began to talk about the shortage of army manpower.
She hosted a program called "60 Minutes", broadcast on Russia 1 channel, and partnered with her husband, Yevgeny Popov, with a high viewing rate, frequently talking about international news and military topics. She was famous for supporting the government's stance, frequently criticizing the West and Ukraine. In the June 9 program, she talked about Belgorod, analyzed the trouble of the Russian army, and said more people needed to firmly hold the defense line.
The guest had military experts and commentators, discussing how the aid of the West to Ukraine affected the war, and how Russia should respond. She mentioned China as a potential partner, because China-Russia economic cooperation is close, and then said the famous phrase: do not rule out the possibility of two or three million Chinese soldiers, which is what is needed now. She felt that the Russian army lacks is the size and power of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, if such support could quickly defeat Ukraine and end the conflict.
This remark is not just a casual remark, it reflects the predicament Russia faced at that time. Russia began mobilizing in September 2022 and recruited 300,000 reserve troops, but it triggered many protests, and some even ran abroad to hide. According to Western intelligence estimates, military casualties exceed 150,000, including many senior officers. Economically, oil has been exported, the ruble has depreciated, and sanctions have messed up the supply chain. Russia began to recruit mercenaries from Africa and Asia, promising high wages and citizenship.
Some Chinese citizens joined through intermediaries, but this was an individual act, and the Chinese government did not participate. Skabieva's words were shared on Twitter by Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, and video footage went viral, with international media reporting that it was a signal of Russia's despair. Chinese netizens responded on social platforms. Some people said that if so many troops were really sent, not only Ukraine, but also the entire NATO would have to tremble. However, others emphasized that this is a Russian matter and there is no need for China to get involved.
China's Foreign Ministry has not returned directly to her, China has remained neutral, called for a negotiation settlement, and has not expressed its intention to send troops. China-Russia's economic cooperation is deepened, but military aid is limited to non-destructive things.
Skabyeva's view has been heard in Russian media circles, with some commentators agreeing that China-Russia relations are good and can help each other. But the Western media treated her as a propaganda tool, saying her words were vigorous. The conflict continued, and in the second half of 2023, Ukraine's counterattack advanced slowly in the south, with mines and drones blocking the way. Russia used missiles to target the back of Ukraine, ports and warehouses.
From the outset, Skabyeva’s words exposed Russia’s weaknesses and wanted to pull China down the water, but China didn’t move. The mercenary affairs showed that the individual adventures were much more risky, and the national level was not involved. The Russian economy relied on China to buy energy and components, but the military still relied on itself.
Russia's chief general Glazimov progress on the front, but exaggerated victory. Putin met with the army chief, dressed in army, and talked about the situation. Ukraine warned of long-term strikes against Russian refineries. The war entered the fourth winter, the energy war broke out, and Europe wanted to put more pressure on Russia. Skabijeva continued to broadcast programs, the Kremlin House narrated.
In general, the statement is like a signal that Russia wants to find help, but China is stable and not disturbed. The conflict is lengthy, everyone is tired and the prospects for negotiations are unclear. Russia is assembled with Iranian drones, North Korean missiles, Chinese component gangs, but no troops. Ukrainian intelligence says Chinese officers learn tactics in the back, but there is no evidence that Beijing approves.
The words of Skabieva, two years later, looked like a joke, but also reminded of the complexity of international relations. Russia hired Asian people, promised identity, but the risk was great, being captured was trouble. China said no country sponsorship, Ukraine wanted the US attention.