Ukrainian President Zelensky recently stated that two Chinese citizens who were fighting for the Russian army have been captured in eastern Ukraine. These two individuals, Wang Guangjun (born in 1991) and Zhang Renbo (born in 1998), made the allegations during a press conference held on April 14 in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, accusing Russia of deceiving them.
According to Kyiv Independent, Wang and Zhang are the first batch of Chinese soldiers fighting for the Russian army but are now prisoners of war in Ukraine.
Zelensky mentioned on April 11 that there were at least “several hundred” Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine, a claim that the Kremlin denied.
During the press conference, Wang and Zhang described in Chinese their journey joining the Russian army and getting captured by the Ukrainian forces in the eastern part of Ukraine. Their statements were then translated into Ukrainian by interpreters provided by the Ukrainian government.
Wang shared how he was captured by the Ukrainian army in the east of Ukraine and immediately subjected to chemical weapons by the Russian army. “I felt weak all over and then passed out… I felt someone grabbing my collar and dragging me to a place with fresh air,” he said.
He expressed gratitude towards a Ukrainian soldier who protected him during the attack and helped him escape by hiding in a bunker. “The soldier always protected us and treated us well,” Wang added.
Wang mentioned that he saw advertisements for Russian military recruitment on the Chinese TikTok platform. After being unemployed last summer, the idea of becoming a mercenary intrigued him.
A recruiter surnamed Wang informed him that Chinese newcomers joining the Russian army could earn between 200,000 to 250,000 rubles per month (approximately $2,000 to $3,000), significantly higher than the average salary in China. However, the promises of covering travel expenses to Russia and assisting with necessary documents were not fulfilled.
Following his enlistment in the Russian army, Wang’s financial cards and phone were confiscated, leaving him with no control over his earnings.
Zhang, who comes from an affluent family and works as a firefighter and rescue worker, traveled to Russia in December last year initially for construction work but later joined the Russian army. He expressed, “I wanted to make money, but I didn’t expect to end up in a war.”
Both individuals claimed that they voluntarily signed contracts with the Russian army and had no affiliation with the Chinese government. Their route took them through Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, where they entered the battlefield.
They mentioned following commands from Russian army commanders, who communicated orders through gestures.
Wang stated that once you join the Russian army, it is challenging to escape due to strict controls at training camps. He also claimed that he did not kill any Ukrainian soldiers and was captured after just three days on the front line. Zhang added that he had not encountered Ukrainian soldiers until being taken captive.
During the press conference, both Chinese citizens criticized Russia, urging their compatriots not to fight for Russia. As their statements were made while under Ukrainian custody, their claims remain unverifiable.
Wang advised, “For those (Chinese) citizens thinking about joining the conflict, we want to say that they shouldn’t do it because everything we heard from the Russians was a lie. The reality is that Russia is not so strong, and Ukraine is not so weak. It is best not to get involved in the war at all.”
They expressed hopes of being repatriated to China rather than Russia in any potential prisoner exchange.
Zhang said, “I am aware there may be consequences, and I am prepared for them. But I still wish to go home and see my family.”
Wang expressed regret for the reality of war differing from what is shown in movies and TV. “I regret one thing – I want to apologize to my parents. My only wish is to go back (to China) and follow all instructions that can help me achieve that.”
Although Wang and Zhang did not disclose their specific provinces in China during the press conference, reports had previously indicated that Wang is from Henan Province and Zhang is from Jiangxi Province.
Epoch Times was unable to independently verify the veracity of the statements made by these two individuals during the press conference.