War in Ukraine. War prisoners from China admitted that they “fell into a trap” set by Beijing

Chinese citizens who were captured in the Donetsk region in the eastern Ukraine at the beginning of April, a press conference was organized in Kiev. They said that they came to the war after signing contracts in Russia, they had no connection with the China government, but “they got into the trap” set by propaganda in Beijing.

At the beginning of the conference, the Chinese explained that they signed contracts for participation in the war on the side Russia And they did not contact the Chinese state authorities in any way. Both men got to war through intermediaries, offering signing contracts for service in the Russian army – reported the Interfax -Ukraina agency.

One of the prisoners said that he wanted to get a job as a medic and intended to heal the wounded. He added that he lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is why he decided to find a new source of income. He emphasized that in China Military service enjoys great respect in society.

– The government (in Beijing – ed.) Warned that China's citizens are warned against traveling to the places where the fights are going on. I wanted to become a paramedic. I was wounded and gave up, he said.

The man added that the Russians hid all information from the PRC citizens, including the amount of remuneration. – It's not worth it. Everything we heard from the Russians was not true – he admitted.

“I did not expect to be in the war”

According to the prisoner, a friendly attitude to Russia is propagated in China, which is why information about this country is presented in a distorted way. – Using trust in the Russian Federation, Chinese citizens are drawn to (in war – ed.). I can call it a trap – the former soldier emphasized.

The second prisoner, from a fairly wealthy family, said that he went to Russia as a tourist and “he did not expect him to be in the war.” At the same time, however, he added that then “he did everything only of his own will” and repeated after the first captured that the government in Beijing “had nothing to do” with the decision to engage in assault Ukraine.

Two China citizens were taken prisoner

On April 8, the Ukrainian army captured two China citizens who fought on the Russian side in the Donetsk region. A day later, the President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelanski He stated that Ukrainian intelligence has information about at least 155 Chinese soldiers who are fighting in the Russian armed forces against Ukraine. In his opinion, the authorities in Beijing know that Moscow is recruiting Chinese citizens for war.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Lin Jian, described last week as the “irresponsible” words of the President of Ukraine about Chinese military fighting with the Ukrainian army on the Russian side. China's communist authorities have never publicly condemned Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, and in the past three years they strengthened their economic, military and political ties with the Russian neighbor.