More than 150 Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, recruited via videos on social media

The videos are across Chinese social media. Some are slickly produced Russian propaganda about being “tough” men; some sound more like influencer advertisements for a working holiday. Others are cobbled-together screenshots by regular citizens about to leave China. But they all have one thing in common: selling the benefits of becoming a Chinese mercenary for Russia.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced that two Chinese nationals had been captured in the eastern Donetsk region and accused Moscow of trying to involve China “directly or indirectly” in the conflict. A day later, he said the men were among at least 155 other Chinese members of Russia’s armed forces. Then again, on Thursday, he accused Russia of conducting “systemic work” in China to recruit fighters.

  • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    3 days ago

    Do you think the Chinese people seeing this realize that they’re seeing this because Russia has run out of people stupid enough to sign up (or prisoners, and other undesirables,)?

    And, uh, North Koreans, too?

    • Patrikvo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      3 days ago

      I guess every country has people who want to play soldier. Russia is offering money and the opportunity to fulfill some sick fantasy. They’ll lure this kind of people from everywhere.

        • veni_vedi_veni@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          Yup, these Chinese hires will be considered just as, if not more so, expendable then the Russian troops that are already sent to the meat grinder.

          It’s a good move by the PRC tbh, their sex ratio is already severely screwed, prevent disorder by getting rid of the most desperate males, and provides valuable combat intel/experience.

        • perestroika@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          To him, everyone is disposable. His likely goal: bargaining his way to interesting technologies and getting feedback from surviving soldiers to modernize his army.