Ukrainian authorities have arrested a Chinese father and son on suspicion of spying on the country’s Neptune anti-ship missile program — a critical component of Ukraine’s defense against Russia and a cornerstone of its growing domestic arms industry.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on Wednesday that counterintelligence officials had detained a 24-year-old former student in Kyiv after he was allegedly given “technical documentation” linked to Neptune missile production.
Shortly after, the man’s father — who had traveled from China — was also detained. The SBU claims he intended to smuggle the sensitive material back to Chinese intelligence. According to the agency, the father had been living in China but came to Ukraine to “personally coordinate” his son’s espionage activities.
A Ukrainian official told Reuters this marks the first known arrest of Chinese nationals for spying since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
China’s foreign ministry responded Thursday, saying it was “still verifying the relevant information.”
“If Chinese citizens are involved, we will safeguard their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law,” said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
Efforts to contact a lawyer representing the accused were unsuccessful.
Growing Tensions Between Kyiv and Beijing
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The arrests come amid rising Ukrainian accusations that China is covertly aiding Russia’s war effort despite Beijing’s claims of neutrality. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously accused China of supplying Russia with weapons, gunpowder, and drone components, and recently imposed sanctions on several Chinese companies believed to be supporting Moscow.
Zelenskyy also claimed that Ukrainian forces had captured Chinese nationals fighting for Russia on the front lines.
While Beijing maintains it has not supplied arms to either side, it has continued close diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow. In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a high-profile visit to Russia, meeting with Vladimir Putin in a show of solidarity.
Neptune Missile Program: A Strategic Asset
Ukraine’s domestically produced Neptune missile has become a symbol of resistance, famously sinking the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet early in the war. Since then, it has targeted Russian infrastructure, including oil terminals.
With U.S. military aid uncertain and Europe’s defense industry still struggling to meet demands, Kyiv is rapidly investing in its domestic arms sector — making the integrity of programs like Neptune all the more crucial.
As Ukraine presses forward with its counterintelligence efforts, officials warn that foreign interest in its military technology will likely only increase.