Chinese social media users have expressed both indifference and skepticism toward Kyiv’s recent capture of two Chinese prisoners of war (POWs) fighting for the Russian Armed Forces – but only a few are surprised.
Several have also accused Kyiv of spreading fake news and questioned the authenticity of the reports.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the capture of two Chinese POWs in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, with a video that showed one of them recounting his battlefield experience via a mix of Mandarin Chinese and English.
Zelensky also said the two were captured with their passports, with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) subsequently releasing photos of their documents, showing they were born in China’s Jiangxi and Henan provinces.
Despite that, some Chinese social media users remain skeptical of whether they are actually citizens of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Reactions on Chinese social media
“Are they Chinese just because they speak Mandarin Chinese?” one user from China’s Guangxi region asked beneath a video from a news report from Hong Kong’s state TVB television channel posted on Douyin, China’s equivalent of TikTok.
Another user then reminded the user that the POWs were captured with their passports and credit cards.
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Zelensky later claimed that more than 150 Chinese nationals are known to be fighting for Moscow, a claim that Beijing decried as “irresponsible remarks.”
In another comment underneath the same video, a user simply asked, “Is it worth it?”
Another user responded to the comment by saying, “Just making a small dime, those who do this are war-minded and love killing.”
According to the unit involved in capturing one of the POWs, he volunteered to fight for Russia and paid 300,000 rubles ($3,518) with the hope of becoming an officer and obtaining Russian citizenship.
Some comments are more critical, however.
In another video from a different newscast, a user suggested that the POWs should be executed since they acted of their own volition, rejecting Beijing’s involvement.
“Personal behavior. Just shoot him,” commented one user from Xinjiang.
Another user voiced a similar sentiment: “Execution via firing squad directly with no mercy,” the person said.
At the same time, one user accused Ukraine of smearing and rejecting the report’s authenticity.
“This is a blatant smear, slander, and malicious intent,” the person said.
Comments from another Chinese volunteer fighting for Moscow
A Chinese user named “Nine-tailed Fox” purportedly fighting for Russia also commented on the captures in a Douyin video.
He said he was trying to verify the reports but was nonetheless saddened by the news. Meanwhile, he asked social media users not to use harsh comments on the reports as he claimed that people like him have their own reasons, such as family or finances, for fighting someone else’s war thousands of miles away from home.
“Some of you might dislike what we do, but please don’t criticize with harsh comments on the internet because everyone who came here [to fight] are not fighting for what’s right or what’s wrong, but for life, responsibilities,” Nine-tailed Fox said.
While some Chinese users have praised the blogger’s decision to fight for Russia, calling him a “righteous hero,” most questioned the very morals of choosing to fight a war that entails killing.
“Can you give up everything for money? You have to live to spend it!” one user commented.
“The host said that there is no objective view of good and evil. He should also know a fundamental objective fact. What kind of life is it to go to such a place? Going to the battlefield is a kind of life where you must kill people if they don’t kill you. This is not an act forced by the country or some force, but you voluntarily kill people for a living. The host should understand that pirates and bandits also kill people for a living. Can the host say that it is not the case?” another user asked.
“Even to make a living, we must not lose our sense of right and wrong. This is the bottom line of being human,” a user from China’s Inner Mongolia commented.
Kyiv Post has previously reported about PRC nationals fighting for the Russian Armed Forces active on social media, where some claimed to have encountered North Korean troops who died in action upon their first deployments.
On the PRC soldier who died for Ukraine
A video depicting another PRC soldier who died fighting for Ukraine received mixed reactions from Chinese users.
Peng Chenliang, call sign “Farias,” was a Chinese soldier who volunteered to fight for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. He died in November 2024 in eastern Ukraine.
“Child, you have chosen the wrong path. May there be no war in heaven,” one user commented.
“He was a good man, wish you well in your next life,” another user commented.
But there were other users who rejoiced at his death.
“Beautiful job,” one person said.
“He did it to himself,” another user said.
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