Chinese Mercenary's Struggles in Russian War Effort
A Chinese man alleged he was misled into becoming a soldier for Russia, stating he could not even visit the restroom without an armed guardian.
Ukraine identified the man as Wang Guangjun, 34, who recounted at a Kyiv briefing how he entered Russia with the expectation of working as a therapist for military personnel, only to find himself on the battlefield.
Ukraine announced on Wednesday that both Wang and another Chinese individual, Zhang Renbao, aged 27, were captured in Donetsk. Business Insider was unable to independently verify the claims made by the POWs.
The pair appealed to the media, hoping China would become aware of their plight and discuss their freedom. They firmly refuted voluntarily engaging in combat against Ukraine.
Wang explained that he was stranded after arriving in Moscow at the start of 2025, followed by minimal training before deployment to Ukraine's combat zones.
Wang elaborated, "Escaping is simply not feasible. Once you enter the training facilities, a guard with a ready weapon shadows your every move, even during night bathroom trips."
He continued, "Commanders are vigilant over our actions throughout training. Escaping is not an option. Russia is swarming with military enforcement, leaving no room for fugitives."
Before his capture, Zhang had worked as a rescuer and firefighter in Shanghai. Together with Wang, they recounted to international reporters their promised earnings of up to 280,000 rubles monthly, which equates to about $3,400.
However, they frequently felt uninformed and struggled with language barriers when interacting with Russian-speaking superiors. Wang mentioned surrendering his phone and being unsure of any payment received.
"I'm candidly telling everyone that I have no idea about the finer details," Wang admitted. "Our involvement was shrouded in secrecy."
Russia's Defense Ministry did not reply to an inquiry for remarks sent after typical business hours by Business Insider.
Details of Their Capture
Wang revealed that on April 1, he was allocated to operations in Donetsk with a unit known as the "7th," likely referring to Russia's 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade. Communication with his commanders occurred only through gestures and sounds.
He recounted that on April 4, during an offensive advance, a Russian soldier imitated weapon noises, prompting him to attack. "I assumed we reached our own forces, considering the numerous Russian shelters passed. It seemed like a joke," he remarked.
Wang added that the sky swarmed with countless drones, resulting in the deaths of several peers. The remnants promptly gave themselves up to Ukrainian soldiers.
Zhang, arriving in Moscow for tourism in December, later looked for employment and ended up dispatched to Donetsk for a month.
He shared that in late March, his small group of Russian troops advanced on the front lines, enduring hours hidden to evade ongoing drone offensives.
Zhang described, "I just kept running until I stumbled upon Ukrainian forces."
Ukraine's studies indicate over 150 Chinese nationals are involved in Russia's war, although Beijing's endorsement is absent. Reuters reported from anonymous U.S. sources that Washington sees many Chinese participants fighting for Russia as mercenaries.
China's stance remains consistent, always advising its citizens against involvement in the conflict.
A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry stated, "We urge the parties involved to have accurate perceptions of China's role and avoid irresponsible commentary."
Leave a Reply