On July 19, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the air was filled with smoke and unrest. Overseas democracy activist Cheng Xinyu had a deep conversation via video call with Mr. Yang, a volunteer from mainland China who joined the Ukrainian international brigade. Cheng Xinyu shared with reporters the information he had gathered from the conversation.
Mr. Yang, a 43-year-old man from Sichuan, China, used to be a small business owner in his home country, leading a peaceful life. However, in 2018, his factory was forcibly demolished by the government. As he resisted the demolition, the local Chinese government not only compensated him nothing but also detained him for leading protests, leaving him with no choice but to sell all his assets and flee to Thailand with his wife and children.
A former soldier known for his marksmanship during his military service, Mr. Yang received a call from his former squad leader one day, offering him a well-paid opportunity to go to Russia to fight. However, to fight for justice, Mr. Yang decided to join the Ukrainian international brigade instead, believing that all disasters stem from dictatorial regimes and that defeating them is crucial to ending global catastrophes.
Despite differences in ideologies, Mr. Yang and his former squad leader became enemies as Mr. Yang pursued his ideals, bidding farewell to his family to make his way to the Ukrainian frontlines.
After some training, Mr. Yang found himself on the Ukrainian battlefield, potentially facing his former comrades who fought for personal gain while he fought for his principles, turning former allies into enemies on the battlefield.
According to Mr. Yang, he knew over 30 Chinese volunteer soldiers in Ukraine, with many more on different fronts, forming only a small part of the total volunteer force.
Mr. Yang revealed that their combat team of six members mostly couldn’t speak Ukrainian, relying on basic English to communicate with each other, making their initial training quite challenging. There was an incident where Mr. Yang misheard “retreat” as “attack,” almost leading them into the enemy’s firepower zone.
During his breaks, Mr. Yang communicated with his wife and children living safely but far away in Chiang Mai, Thailand, via encrypted means. At first, his wife thought he was crazy for leaving his family to join the conflict, but after understanding his motivations, she encouraged him to come back safely, acknowledging the importance of their fight against repressive regimes.
Mr. Yang’s parents back in China believed he was volunteering abroad and constantly reminded him to stay safe, unaware of his frontline involvement, with hopes that they’d be proud of him one day.
Looking ahead, Mr. Yang remained steadfast in his goal to help Ukraine win the war and eradicate the despotic regimes of China, Russia, and North Korea.
Expressing his wishes, Mr. Yang emphasized the importance of fighting for democracy and freedom, even though he couldn’t witness a democratic China himself, hoping to create a better future for his children in a free world.
In the video, although tired, Mr. Yang’s eyes sparkled with hope, prompting Cheng Xinyu to find him remarkably brave and reassuring him that democracy and freedom would prevail.
Mr. Yang’s story inspired Cheng Xinyu, proving that ordinary people can stand for ideals even without a common language or sophisticated equipment, exemplifying their choice to uphold the values of freedom and justice across continents.
As the interview concluded, Cheng Xinyu and Mr. Yang planned to return to their homeland together and contribute to building a beautiful future once democracy and freedom were established. Despite Mr. Yang’s humble claim of being an ordinary person rather than a hero, his commitment to the fight for democracy and freedom left a lasting impact, stirring emotions and admiration in Cheng Xinyu’s heart.
Cheng Xinyu wished Mr. Yang well, expressing his deepest respect for his heroism and silently praying for his safety, reunification with his family, and the swift end of the war.