TAIPIEI, TAIWAN – Two Chinese nationals captured during the fight against Russia in Ukraine said that they had been deceived by false promises and online recruitment advertisements in enrollment and criticized Moscow for having exploited foreign fighters in his war effort.
“I wanted to make money, but I did not expect to find myself in a war,” said Zhang Renbo, a former firefighter in China, at a press conference by the Ukrainian government on Monday.
He and Wang Guangjun, both born in the 1990s, were the first confirmed Chinese nationals captured in the Russian ranks against Ukraine. Their capture was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month, who said that “several hundred” of Chinese citizens would fight for Russia.
Wang said that he had lost his job last summer and came across a Tiktok announcement offering a lucrative opportunity to join the Russian army. The recruiter promised him a salary well above the Chinese average and proposed to pay travel and documents.
But shortly after arriving, Wang said, the Russians confiscated his phone and bank card. He could not access the promised remuneration or to contact anyone at home.
“Everything we heard of the Russians was a lie,” said Wang.
Radio Free Asia did not independently verify the claims of men.
The two men said they had signed enrollment contracts voluntarily but without any connection with the Chinese government.
The two said they initially proposed by non -combatants – Wang in the army directly, Zhang through construction work – to be placed on the battlefield later. Their route to war crossed Moscow and Donetsk occupied by Russian before reaching the front lines.
Wang said he had been forward for three days before being captured.
He described being housed by Ukrainian soldiers during a Russian gas attack after his capture and said that he had been well treated since. In the video conference video, the two men seem to be healthy.
Zhang, who comes from a richer environment, said that he had never seen Ukrainian troops until he was taken prisoner. The two men said they hadn’t killed anyone during their stay on the battlefield.
The two suddenly criticized Russia at the press conference and discouraged other Chinese nationals to join the conflict.
“It is better not to participate in wars at all,” said Wang. “The real war is completely different from what we have seen in films and on television.”
They also denied any involvement by the Chinese state in their recruitment.
When they were asked if Beijing was aware of their actions, they said that China had issued general warnings against travel in conflict areas and noted that Chinese citizens who joined foreign soldiers could face legal consequences. However, the two said they hoped to return to China as part of a future exchange of prisoners.
“I understand that there can be a punishment,” said Zhang. “But I always want to go home and my family.”
Russia has turned more and more towards foreign nationals to fulfill its ranks in Ukraine, recruit country fighters like India, Nepal, Syria and North Korea.
According to the United States and Ukraine, 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia to fight against the Ukrainian forces which occupied Kursk parties in a August counter-attack. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow recognized their presence.
According to Wang, he was placed in a training camp alongside recruits in Central Asia, Ghana and Iraq, and said that communication with commanders was limited to gestures.
Edited by Stephen Wright.