Ukraine presents Chinese fighters for Russia – what message?

Ukraine presents Chinese fighters for Russia – what message?

Presenting prisoners of war in front of reporters and news cameras is most likely a violation of international humanitarian law. Nevertheless, Ukraine appeared happy to spread such a message during a press conference in which two supposedly captured fighters from China took center stage.

Ukraine's decision

The argument may have been that the possible reputational damage from showcasing the prisoners would be less than the benefit this platform offers for their voices. This is in contrast to protecting prisoners from “insult and public curiosity” – a principle that, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, also includes protection from media coverage.

China's neutral position

China has always maintained neutrality in Russia's conflict with Ukraine and urges its citizens not to interfere in foreign conflicts. Nevertheless, Beijing's actions are being closely watched in Kiev as they represent important diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.

The prisoners of war

The prisoners of war, dressed in combat fatigues and answering questions in Mandarin, were under the protection of armed Ukrainian security forces while an interpreter sat at their side. They reported that financial incentives played a crucial role in their stories.

Financial incentives and recruitment

One of the prisoners said he was looking for a way to earn money after losing his job during the coronavirus crisis. The promise of 250,000 rubles (about $3,000) per month in Russia more than doubled his earning potential back home. Despite his experience in medical rehabilitation, after reporting to Moscow he was ordered to undergo combat training.

Lack of language skills and documentation

One of the problems was that the documents were only written in Russian, which the two men did not understand. One of them communicated primarily through hand signals.

Insights into recruitment contracts

A contract with the Russian army signed by another Chinese fighter is believed to provide a clue to what the two prisoners of war agreed to. The contract, provided to CNN by a Ukrainian intelligence source, requires volunteers to, among other things, "participate in combat and perform duties during the mobilization phase... emergencies and martial law."

Fights and captures

The two men had fought for only three days and reported chaotic moments that led to their capture. Had the commander not uttered a “Da, da, da” (“Yes, yes, yes” in Russian) to signal the attack, they might have continued without knowing where the target was.

Foreign fighters in the conflict

Foreign fighters have been present on both sides since the conflict began. A list seen by CNN shows that foreign prisoners of war held in Ukraine until the end of 2024 come from Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Sudan and Syria, among others.

China's role in the conflict

Given that Russia relies on foreign fighters to maintain the long front line, the recruitment process of Chinese prisoners is also being closely monitored. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he “doesn’t have an answer to this question,” but the security services in Ukraine are working on it. However, the prisoners insisted that they acted as individuals and were motivated by recruitment videos on TikTok.

The influence of public perception

Although Ukraine has hosted press conferences with prisoners of war in the past, the decision to feature Chinese prisoners stands out. The time is significant because Ukraine wants to gain the upper hand over U.S. policy regarding the conflict with Russia. With this measure, Kiev could also send a message to the EU, which has recently shown rapprochements with China.

China's reaction

Beijing responded to this presentation with a call to properly understand China's role and avoid responsible statements. These diplomatic tensions highlight the complex geopolitical web in which Ukraine and international actors operate.