The two Chinese soldiers fighting for Moscow captured by Kyiv have shed light on their firsthand experience fighting as hired guns for Russia, highlighting the impact of Russian narratives on the Chinese population as the leaders of both nations hailed historic close ties.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the capture of the two soldiers on April 8, and later said more than 150 Chinese nationals are serving in the Russian Armed Forces, a claim Beijing dismissed as “irresponsible remarks.”
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At a Monday press conference hosted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the agency tasked with the POWs’ internment, the two individuals told reporters about their journey to Russia and the maltreatment they experienced serving under the Russian military.
Journey to Russia, then eastern Ukraine
Wang Guangjun, who earlier said he was recruited in China via a TikTok ad and paid to join the Russian military, said he went through Kazan then Rostov-on-Don before entering eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region when asked by a Kyiv Post reporter about the cities they traveled through and the means of transportation used en route to Ukraine’s Donbas region.
“I departed from Kazan… Kazan in [Russia’s] Tatarstan Republic, then reached Rostov-on-Don. From Rostov I reached [Ukraine’s] Donetsk. On the way I took designated coaches and minibuses, and also a minivan. Then I made it to northern Donetsk, then now I am here,” Wang said.
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Wang later added that he was captured three days after he was first deployed.
During training, your commander will always keep an eye on you.
Dire battlefield conditions
A reporter from Taiwan’s Public Television Service (PTS) asked if they tried to escape or experienced maltreatment by the Russian military, if they regretted joining the war, and if they have a message for their family.
“For the first question, running away is not possible because the moment you join the training camp, every time you go to the bathroom – even in the middle of the night – there will be a soldier following you around with a loaded rifle,” Wang said.
“Then, during training, your commander will always keep an eye on you, there is no way you can escape. Plus, Russian sentries are everywhere, you cannot run anywhere.”
“In Rostov, there was once an incident where a foreigner committed suicide in the middle of the night, the actual reason… specifically, we don’t know,” he added.
Wang also described the poor conditions of the camp in Russia’s Rostov, where he lived in a place without water or electricity, and only received a meal in a day or two.
There was an instance when they were working until 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., and only then were they given “a pinch of raw rice” as food, he said.
War, as before, only existed in my television shows or movies.
Regrets on participating in the war
Zhang Renbo, the other POW who said he traveled to Russia as a tourist with plans to join the Russian military, said his prime regret is leaving home to join the war.
“There’s no use in saying much. Another thing – answering [another question on] what I want to tell my parents – because… my parents might see me on television, because they didn’t know that I joined the war in Russia. I want to tell them that I am alive. Even though you might be very angry, at least I am lucky to be alive,” Zhang said.
“Ukraine is treating me well,” he added.
About regrets, Wang said he felt sorry for his father and mother before criticizing the harsh reality of wars.
“War, as before, only existed in my television shows or movies,” he said, adding that what he described earlier has shown that they do not correspond to reality.
“But when you actually experience it firsthand, you will realize how long every second lasts,” he said, adding that he wishes to return home soon and cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities.
Russia isn’t as strong as they claim, and Ukraine isn’t as backward as they say.
Perceptions on Ukraine, Russia
When asked about China’s perceptions of Ukraine, Wang said Ukrainians are known to be good-looking while Zhang said he noticed a drop in food supplies to China after the full-scale invasion started.
“A lot of handsome men and good-looking women, that’s what everyone in China knows,” Wang said.
“I know that relations between Ukraine and my country are that China has been importing Ukrainian food. Since the war started, our food imports became lower,” Zhang said.
Wang also criticized Moscow’s propaganda on the Chinese population and said he would dissuade his fellow citizens from joining the fight when asked about their views on the current situation in Ukraine and potential messages for other Chinese nationals wishing to join the fight.
“For those fellow Chinese compatriots who wish to join the war against Ukraine, I just want to say that don’t join this war,” Wang said after Zhang explained the question to him.
“All Russia fed us are lies. They’re fake. Russia isn’t as strong as they claim, and Ukraine isn’t as backward as they say. When the moment of joining the war comes – when [one starts] exchanging fire, I discover that everything is a lie. I wish you to remember by all means not to join any war, especially this war that is irrelevant to us.
Wang also said that Russian troops never taught them how to surrender, adding that it is his belief that Russian troops never expect foreign fighters to be captured, and the message relayed to them is that a horrible fate awaits if they are captured by Ukrainian troops.
“Russia tells all foreign fighters – the message they relay to them – if we are captured, we will die horribly, [Ukraine] will… they described it as gruesome treatment, or [our] photos will be sent to friends and family [back home],” Wang said.
Kyiv Post previously reported Chinese social media users’ reactions to the two’s capture, including comments from another Chinese national serving in the Russian military.
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