Captured Chinese Fighters Expose Russian Recruitment Lies and Harsh Conditions

Chinese POWs warn against joining the Ukraine war, reveal multinational recruitment and dire conditions in Russian camps.

Chinese prisoners of war, Wang Guangjun and Zhang Renbo, publicly urged their compatriots not to join Russia's war in Ukraine, citing false propaganda and harsh realities.
Captured fighters revealed that Russia recruits mercenaries from multiple countries, including China, Central Asia, Ghana, and Iraq, through online ads with false promises of high payouts.
The POWs described dire conditions in Russian camps, including inadequate food, lack of utilities, and grueling labor without proper compensation.
Both men stated they were misled by Russian claims about military strength and Ukraine's weaknesses, emphasizing that such claims were entirely false.
Ukrainian authorities organized a press briefing where the captured fighters expressed their desire to return home and warned others against being deceived by Russian recruitment tactics.