Chinese ‘Mercenaries’ Caught in Ukraine Reveal More of Beijing’s Involvement in Russia–Ukraine War

Chinese soldiers arrive at the Grodekovo railway station to participate in war games drills in Grodekovo, Russia, in a still from video footage released on Aug. 29, 2022. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Commentary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on April 8 wrote on social media that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian troops. He instructed his foreign ministry to immediately contact Chinese authorities to clarify Beijing’s position on the matter.

According to Zelenskyy, six Chinese citizens were discovered engaging Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region, with two taken prisoner.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on April 8 that the United States is aware of the reports and finds them “disturbing.”

The following day, Zelenskyy told journalists that 155 Chinese nationals are “fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine.”

“Beijing knows about this. Russians distribute advertising videos about recruitment through Chinese social networks,” Zelenskyy claimed.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a news conference on April 9 that Beijing was verifying the information with Ukrainian authorities. Still, he did not directly address the capture of the two Chinese citizens.

Who Are the Captured Chinese Nationals in Ukraine?

Following Zelenskyy’s announcement of the capture of the two Chinese nationals, further details about the individuals have emerged, indicating that at least one of them may have connections to the Chinese military.

A video released by the Security Service of Ukraine, and reported by The Kyiv Independent, shows the interrogation of the two captives. One of them introduced himself as Zhang Renbo from Jiangxi Province, and the video shows his passport details. The other detainee was Wang Guangjun of Henan Province. One of the captives paid a middleman 2 million rubles ($23,300) to secure a military contract, the media outlet said.

The interrogation footage has raised questions about Zhang’s background. When questioned, he used the term “deployment,” which is commonly used in military contexts. Additionally, Zhang demonstrated familiarity with weapons; he specifically mentioned carrying an AK-74 rifle and being partnered with a Russian soldier. This has led to speculation that he may be a former member of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and that his story was rehearsed in anticipation of potential capture.

Details of Zhang’s passport raise more questions about his identity. As revealed in the video, Zhang’s passport was issued on July 31, 2023, and is valid until 2033. While his place of birth is listed as Jiangxi, the passport was issued in Beijing, prompting speculation about the nature of his recruitment and travel. This is because Chinese passports are usually issued based on the address of their hukou, a Chinese household registration system that dictates where individuals are allowed to live, work, and access social services.

I see three possible explanations for Zhang’s situation. First, he may have moved to Beijing as an adult for work and later sought to become a mercenary in Russia, applying for a new passport in the city where he was employed.

Second, it’s possible that Zhang never actually resided in Beijing. Instead, a facilitator based in the city could have managed to get him a passport and made travel arrangements, potentially helping him to enter Russia.

Third, Zhang could have been covertly deployed by the PLA to observe frontline operations in Ukraine. If this were the case, his mercenary identity and background story could have served as a cover in the event of his capture.

Wang, by contrast, appears to be a civilian recruit with no formal training. In the video, Wang did not mention “deployment” or refer to his weapon. He focused on describing what happened after his capture and showed limited knowledge of protection against toxic gases.

According to his account, after he was captured, he and the Ukrainian soldiers were attacked by Russians. He recounted that the Russians had thrown tear gas into his bunker. The smoke was so thick and suffocating that he didn’t know how to escape it; he simply stayed put helplessly, fearing that he would die. At that moment, a Ukrainian soldier, who had initially managed to escape, returned for him and pulled him out by the collar. He said that during this process, he had already fainted.

It appears that Wang received little to no formal military training, or only rushed training. What the Russians threw was not tear gas, but gas bombs, as Russia has reportedly used toxic chemicals such as chloropicrin and grenades loaded with CS and CN, both of which are types of tear gases, on the battlefield. That may be the reason why Wang felt suffocated and lost consciousness.

The PLA has been researching and manufacturing chemical weapons and has included the subject of defense against chemical and biological weapons in its daily training. If the Ukrainian soldier had not come back to rescue him, his ongoing exposure to toxic gases in that confined space could have been fatal.

Ukrainian officials have previously reported the presence of North Korean military officers observing Russian operations on the front lines; some of them were reportedly killed in Ukrainian missile strikes. Analysts suggest that the Chinese military, which lacks recent combat experience, may be deploying lower-level personnel to gain exposure to active battle conditions under the guise of foreign volunteers or contractors.

As Ukraine continues its investigation, questions remain over the nature of Chinese nationals fighting in the conflict—whether they are independent mercenaries, coerced individuals, or part of an unofficial state-backed mission to learn lessons and tactics from the war.

CCP’s Role in Supporting Russia’s War in Ukraine

Ukraine has previously criticized China for sending key equipment and components necessary for weapons production to Russia, which is vital in sustaining Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine, more so than the Chinese mercenaries fighting on behalf of Russia in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s announcement about the presence of Chinese nationals fighting for the Russian forces seems to be a strategy to get more attention from the United States and NATO. This message highlights that advocating a cease-fire requires more than just pressuring Moscow; it is also essential to address the Chinese regime’s support for Russia as a crucial factor.

The United States has echoed these concerns. According to Bruce, China has become Russia’s most significant external backer in the war.

“China provides nearly 80 percent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war,” Bruce said on April 8.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has supported Russia’s attack on Ukraine for more than three years. I believe that the Chinese people can help end the war and the loss of life, especially when they realize that the CCP is behind it, by rising against the tyranny of the Party and advocating a free society, one in which individuals are not brainwashed or deceived.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.