Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has detained two Chinese nationals in Kyiv on suspicion of attempting to steal classified information related to the country’s Neptune cruise missile system. The suspects—a 24-year-old former student of a Kyiv technical university and his father—have been charged with espionage and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

According to the SBU, the younger man had remained in Ukraine after being expelled from university in 2023 and was caught "red-handed" while attempting to transfer secret technical documents to a Ukrainian contact. His father, who lives in China but visits Ukraine periodically, is believed to have personally coordinated the espionage operation. Encrypted messages on their mobile phones allegedly show communication with Chinese intelligence services.

Beijing Responds Cautiously

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to the allegations by saying authorities were “verifying” the details of the case. “If Chinese citizens are involved, we will... safeguard Chinese citizens’ legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law,” she stated.

While China has not officially denied the charges, the case adds to mounting tensions over Beijing's perceived support for Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine.

Strategic Significance of the Neptune Missile

The Neptune is a domestically developed Ukrainian coastal defense missile that gained international recognition in 2022 when it was used to sink the Russian warship Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian authorities say the suspects targeted technical documentation related to the Neptune’s guidance and propulsion systems—information that could have significant strategic value if transferred abroad.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously accused China of covertly supplying Russia with war materials such as gunpowder and artillery shells. On Tuesday, Kyiv also sanctioned five Chinese companies for allegedly exporting drone components used in Russian attacks.

The espionage case further reinforces Western concerns about growing Chinese involvement in support of Russia’s war effort, and could influence diplomatic ties between Kyiv, Beijing, and NATO members.