His motivation was “tasteing military life abroad”: a China citizen who allegedly fought in Ukraine on the Russian side, told the American CNN television station about his experiences. They were apparently largely disappointing. CNN talked to several Chinese and claims that she had a partial insight into their passports and contracts.
The 29-year-old, whom CNN calls “Michael” (this is not his real name), claims that in 2023 he noticed on the application Douyin, the Chinese version of the Tiktok social platform, advertising films of the Russian army. These clips gave him, which previously served in the Chinese army, the idea to join the Russian army. Russian propaganda films were shown in the CNN report, in which foreign soldiers are recruited in Mandarin.
According to his information, Michael arrived in Moscow at the end of 2023 based on a tourist visa. After he was rejected by the army because of the lack of knowledge of the Russian language, he joined the Wagner group. After the mission on Donbass in May 2024, he signed an annual contract with Russia's regular armed forces and was sent to the fighting in Bachmut.
“The second best army of the world is a joke”
A city in eastern Ukraine, currently conquered by Russia and completely destroyed, has become known as a deadly “meat machine [armatniego]”due to high losses [żołnierzy] on both sides. Michael apparently also experienced brutal experiences there. Today he is convinced that the decision to go to Russia, and from there to Ukraine, was a “mistake”.
Not only because of the experience from the front: “The second best army of the world is a joke” – says about the Russian army. Individual combat capacity is greater than in the Chinese folk and core army, but The equipment is bad, logistics are inefficient, and also soldiers are treated badly and “serious corruption” prevails. Due to the dispute with the commander, he was to be locked for three weeks in a trussy cavity, in which he barely took place to stand.
He was also wounded on the front, currently he recovered after injuries. “I have to say a few truths and warn irrational Chinese: don't come here.”
Continued article under video material
Main motivation to participate in the war: Money
The decision to set off on the war on behalf of Russia did not have a political background, he just wanted to fight. “I'm just a soldier,” quotes Michael CNN.
For most Chinese, the main reason for participating in the war is money. The hero of the CNN report received a contract for 200,000 rubles per month (about 2150 euros, or PLN 9,244). Additional bonuses have been agreed for specific achievements. For each kilometer, he was to receive another 50,000. rubles (about 540 euros, or 2,310 PLN). He and many other Chinese in the ranks of Moscow belonged in his homeland to the “lowest social layer”.
Russia initially claimed that information about Chinese citizens fighting on the Russian side is “total untrue”. Meanwhile, Kyiv publicly presented several captured Chinese and claims that over 150 China citizens are fighting on the Russian side. CNN also talked to the Chinese fighting on the side of Ukraine.
