Two Chinese prisoners of war, identified as Wang Guangjun and Zhang Renbo, held a press conference in Ukraine on Monday, revealing their harrowing experiences as recruits in Russia’s military. The 34-year-old Wang, who was initially lured by promotional videos on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, said he was promised a job providing rehabilitation therapy to injured soldiers but instead found himself fighting in Donetsk.
Wang, an ordinary employee from China who lost his job due to the pandemic, was enticed by videos showcasing Russian soldiers and weapons. He claimed that Chinese authorities warned him not to cross into Russia for the job, which he did anyway. Wang was given a few days of training in Moscow before being deployed to northern Donetsk, where he was eventually captured.
Zhang Renbo, 27, also spoke about his experience as a firefighter from Shanghai who was offered work in construction while on vacation in December. However, he soon realized the job was actually in the warzone and was sent to Rostov for training before being deployed to Donetsk.
Both men expressed regret over their decision to join Russia’s military, with Wang advising fellow Chinese citizens not to participate in the fight against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that his government believes more than 150 Chinese citizens are fighting in Ukraine for the Russian military.
The Chinese government has denied any involvement in recruiting Chinese nationals to fight in Ukraine, but the two prisoners of war’s stories raise concerns about deception and manipulation by Russia. The incident highlights the complexities of China’s relationship with Russia and its impact on Chinese citizens.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-pow-wang-guangjun-videos-join-russia-social-media-ukraine-2025-4