Chinese Soldiers Speak Out at Ukrainian Press Conference
On Monday, a significant press conference took place in Kyiv, where two Chinese prisoners of war openly spoke to journalists under stringent guard. Their statements revealed a desperate hope for repatriation as they warned their fellow countrymen against joining the conflict. This event followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent allegations that Russia was exploiting China in its ongoing invasion, claiming that several hundred Chinese nationals were actively fighting alongside Russian forces.
In response to Zelensky’s claims, the Kremlin firmly rejected the accusations, while Beijing urged all involved parties to refrain from making “irresponsible remarks.” The atmosphere at the press conference was intense, with the two Chinese men, adorned in camouflage uniforms, entering the facility handcuffed and surrounded by armed Ukrainian soldiers. Their perilous situation raised questions about their willingness to share their experiences.
Captured Soldiers Share Their Experience
Both men, captured while fighting in the eastern Donetsk region, recounted their recruitment via online advertisements. Speaking in Mandarin, they described the circumstances that led them to join the conflict, emphasizing their misunderstanding of the war’s reality.
Zhang Renbo, aged 26, expressed a poignant wish for China to negotiate his return from Ukraine and Russia, stating, “I hope China can exchange me with Russia and Ukraine and bring me back to China.” His fellow captive, Wang Guangjun, 33, conveyed a strong message to potential recruits, urging them not to partake in the ongoing war, emphasizing the grave risks involved.
Warnings Against Enlisting in the Conflict
Wang Guangjun’s admonishments were stark as he noted, “To my compatriots who want to join the Ukraine war, I want to say: don’t take part in this war.” He highlighted the discrepancies between Russia’s portrayal of its military capabilities and the actual realities faced by soldiers in combat.
Summarizing his experience, Wang asserted, “When you really participate in the war, when the moment of fighting comes, you will find that everything is a lie.” His statements serve as a chilling reminder of the harsh truths that lie beneath the surface of warfare.
