Video Ukraine brought the Chinese captured in front of the press while fighting for the Russians. What did the two say
Press conference with the two Chinese wolf for the Russian army and were captured by Ukraine in April. Photo: Genya Savilov / AFP / Profimedia
The two Chinese citizens captured by Ukraine this month while fighting in the Russian army appeared in a press conference in Kiev, declaring that they want to be part of an exchange to return home and call on their fellow citizens not to follow their example, AFP reports.
The two men spoke to journalists while they had armed and masked Ukrainian soldiers next to them. Dressed in military and handcuffed uniforms, the two described in the mandarin the way they were captured during the battles in the Donetk region in eastern Ukraine, after joining the Russian army through online ads.
The Chinese Captured Last Week Static at Press Conference That Hope for China's Assistance in A Prison Exchange. They also shared that they Nearly DIED from Russian Chemical Weapons and Expression Desire to Return Home. pic.twitter.com/2bjoy9ocb
– Wartranslated (@wartranslated) April 14, 2025
“I hope China can change me with Russia and Ukraine and bring me back to China,” one of them, identified as Zhang Renbo, 26 years old.
The other, identified as Wang Guangjun, 33, appealed to his “compatriots who want to take part in the Ukraine war” not to. “Don't take part in this war,” he said.
He said he was recruited in the Russian army through “recruitment ads on certain Chinese applications such as Kuaishou and Douyin.”
Both men denied that they had anything to do with the Chinese government.
Last week, Ukraine announced the capture of the two Chinese citizens, fighting with the Russian army on the front line. Beijing denied any involvement in their recruitment in the Moscow army.
Volodimir Zelenski said last Wednesday that Ukrainian intelligence services have information about 155 Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian army against Ukraine. He also accused China of “involvement” in conflict, a statement that Beijing considered as “irresponsible”.
