At a Glance
- Two Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia
- Recruits describe horrific conditions and deception
- Zelensky confronts China over alleged mercenary pipeline
- Beijing denies state involvement, blames misinformation
- Russian military disinformation tactics under fresh scrutiny
Chinese captives reveal how Russian propaganda and social media trickery pulled them into a war they barely understood—and exposed Moscow’s decaying military myth.
Chinese Nationals Captured in Ukraine
The detainment of Wang Guangjun and Zhang Renbo, two Chinese citizens captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russian forces, has thrown an unexpected spotlight on Moscow’s covert recruitment practices. Their capture in the embattled Donetsk region has raised both humanitarian and geopolitical alarms, with Ukrainian authorities accusing Russia of manipulating foreign nationals into service through online misinformation.
According to Wang, a former rehabilitation therapist, and Zhang, an ex-firefighter, they were recruited via Chinese social media platforms such as Douyin—TikTok’s Chinese counterpart—with promises of non-combat roles and lucrative pay. Instead, they were thrust into the front lines with minimal training, under constant surveillance and deprived of basic necessities.
Watch Business Insider’s report on the incident at Chinese mercenary said Russians couldn’t go to the bathroom without an armed escort.
Their harrowing testimonies directly challenge the Kremlin’s portrayal of military strength. “All Russia fed us are lies. They’re fake. Russia isn’t as strong as they claim,” said Wang and Zhang in a joint statement following their detainment by Ukrainian forces. Their accounts of crumbling infrastructure, lack of water, and food shortages portray a military struggling with logistics and morale.
Recruitment, Misinformation, and Denial
President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded explanations from China, after Ukraine identified at least 150 Chinese citizens believed to be fighting for Russian forces, according to a report by Politico Europe. While Beijing firmly denied any state-sanctioned involvement, it reiterated its travel advisories discouraging Chinese nationals from entering war zones. Nevertheless, the viral recruitment ads and the subsequent fallout have left diplomatic relations between Kyiv and Beijing frayed.
Wang has since expressed regret and a desperate desire to return to China—even at the risk of punishment. “I understand that punishment is possible and I am prepared for it. Still, I want to return home to my family,” he told reporters, warning others not to fall for similar schemes. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the men had no prior military experience and were misled from the outset.
The two reportedly spent weeks under armed escort at all times. As reported by Business Insider, even basic tasks like going to the bathroom required permission and accompaniment by guards, a chilling reminder of the control Russia exerted over its foreign fighters.
Russia’s Long History of Deception
This incident echoes a broader, more insidious trend within Russian military doctrine: maskirovka—a strategy of misdirection, camouflage, and psychological manipulation that has roots in Soviet-era warfare. As military theorist Maj Gen Alexander Vladimirov once put it in a BBC interview, “All human history can be portrayed as the history of deception.” That doctrine was visible during the annexation of Crimea, when Russian troops operated without insignia to sow confusion.
The same principles appear to be at play today. The narratives spun by the Russian state—of grandeur, strength, and unity—are unraveling as frontline accounts like Wang’s and Zhang’s come to light. By exposing the disconnect between Kremlin propaganda and battlefield reality, these foreign mercenaries have unwittingly become symbols of the disinformation age.
According to Business Insider, Russia’s use of social platforms to recruit non-Russian fighters has become a growing trend, with many enticed by misleading content portraying the war effort as both noble and safe.
Watch CGTN’s coverage at China responds to Chinese soldier’s capture in Ukraine.
