Recruitment, weapons, and prospect of exchange: Interrogation of Chinese POW
Photo: Chinese prisoner who fought as part of the Russian army (t.me/SBUkr)
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) continues to interrogate Chinese citizens who were recently captured by Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video of the interrogation of a prisoner on his Telegram, in which the prisoner spoke about his involvement in the war.
During the interrogation, law enforcement officers asked the prisoner who recruited him and how they communicated with the commander.
“The commander was Russian. He simply told us what to do. We just followed his orders. Whatever he did, we did the same,” said the Chinese prisoner.
He also admitted that he had an AK-74 rifle, but lost it. When they were hiding in a wooden shelter, they were attacked by a drone, which damaged the mercenary’s weapon. The prisoner added that at that time, there were two of them — himself and another Russian.
The Chinese citizen also shared his views on being a prisoner in Ukraine.
“They feed me better in Ukraine than in Russia, they treat me better, and it’s safer here,” the Chinese man said.
He added that he does not want to go to Russia as part of a prisoner exchange but wants to return to China.
The prisoner also confessed that he never quit his job when he came to Russia and went to fight as part of the Russian army. He had worked as a rescuer in China. However, the man does not know if he is being searched for in his homeland. He only contacted his family once after becoming a mercenary for the Russians.
“There was no internet. I only sent a video to my parents once, but I didn’t tell them I was in Russia or that I had become a soldier, so they wouldn’t worry,” the prisoner added.
Commenting on the video of the interrogation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that it is clear these are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic Russian operation, including on the territory and within the jurisdiction of China, aimed at recruiting citizens of that country for the war.
“We need to do everything necessary so that Russia does not have such and similar opportunities to drag out and expand the war,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
Ukrainian Armed Forces captured Chinese citizens as prisoners of war
It was reported that soldiers from the 81st Separate Airborne Slobozhansk Brigade of the Airborne Forces captured two Chinese nationals in one of the directions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video featuring the prisoners.
In response, Ukraine summoned the Chargé d'Affaires of China to address the involvement of Chinese citizens in the war on Russia's side. Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is "verifying the situation" with Ukraine.
Yesterday, RBC-Ukraine, citing sources in the security services, reported that the SSU had already interrogated the Chinese prisoners and disclosed their names. Later, a video of the interrogation of the two Chinese prisoners appeared.
