Two Chinese citizens captured fighting against Ukraine said they were “fed lies” by Russia and that Vladimir Putin’s forces were not as strong as they claimed.
Wang Guanjung and Zhang Renbo were captured fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine earlier this month.
Handcuffed and wearing military fatigues at a briefing organised by Ukrinform, the Ukrainian national news agency, the pair said: “All Russia fed us are lies. They’re fake. Russia isn’t as strong as they claim, and Ukraine isn’t as backwards as they say.”
Mr Zhang and Mr Wang said they were taken captive immediately after arriving on the front line and had not killed any Ukrainian troops – Shutterstock
President Zelensky initially demanded that Beijing explain why Chinese soldiers, as he referred to them, were fighting for Russia.
The pair stressed, however, that they were not fighting on behalf of China and had no links to Chinese state authorities. Instead, they were recruited as mercenaries through online advertisements, they said.
Mr Wang said he was recruited through a TikTok advert. He told reporters he then travelled via coaches and minibuses to Kazan in south-west Russia, before moving through Rostov-on-Don before entering eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, where he enlisted in the army with Mr Zhang.
Mr Zhang was handcuffed as he addressed reporters at a briefing organised by the Ukrainian national news agency – STRINGER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Mr Zhang told reporters he was in Russia as a tourist when he spotted an advert with the offer of two million roubles (£18,400) and decided to enlist.
The pair were both captured in Donetsk, with footage of their detention released on April 8.
Credit: X/@ZelenskyyUa
Both prisoners said they were taken captive immediately after arriving on the front line and had not killed any Ukrainian troops.
Mr Zelensky said last week that there were at least 155 Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in the war, a claim Beijing has dismissed as “irresponsible”.
China denies significant numbers of its citizens are serving in the Russian armed forces, saying it advises nationals to “avoid participating in military operations of any party” and is a “staunch supporter” of peace in Ukraine.
Credit: @TGTM_Official
The only example so far of a foreign country deploying soldiers to help Russia in its war effort is North Korea. However, those troops have not been allowed to fight inside Ukrainian territory.
Asked about conditions inside the Russian camps, the Chinese prisoners described a lack of water and electricity.
Mr Wang recalled an instance when they worked until the early hours of the morning, only to be given “a pinch of raw rice”.
His account is consistent with reported accounts from North Korean soldiers, who have complained of a lack of food in the Russian army.
Mr Zhang said he was offered two million roubles (£18,400) and decided to enlist – GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images
Both told reporters that they were expecting to face punishment on their return to China, but said this had not dissuaded them from wanting to go home.
“I understand that punishment is possible and I am prepared for it, because it’s clear that for participating in war and such actions, there can be consequences. Still, I want to return home to my family,” Mr Wang said.
“For those Chinese compatriots who wish to join the war against Ukraine, I just want to say…don’t join this war,” he added.
The Ukrainian security service said both men had undergone initial interrogations and were being held as prisoners of war in Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump took a fresh swipe at Mr Zelensky during a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office.
On Monday, the US president claimed that his Ukrainian counterpart had “allowed” the war with Russia to begin, before questioning his competence and insisting Putin would never have invaded under his leadership.
“The mistake was letting the war happen. If Biden were competent, and if Zelensky were competent, and I don’t know that he is …he just kept asking for more and more, that war should have never been allowed to happen,” he said.
“You take a look at Putin. I’m not saying anybody’s an angel. But I will tell you I went four years and it wasn’t even a question [he would invade Ukraine], he would never.”
Questioned on whether he would accept an offer made by Mr Zelensky to buy 10 US-made Patriot air defence missile systems for $15 billion (£11.34 billion), he answered: “When you start a war, you’ve got to know that you can win the war, right?”
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
