Zhang Renbo and Wang Guanjun, the two Chinese citizens captured by Ukrainian forces on the Donetsk front, have said that the Russian units in which they served engaged them in hard labour and generally kept them at arm’s length.

Source: press conference with the participation of the Chinese prisoners of war in Kyiv

Details: The aforementioned units were headed by Russian commanders. The two POWs say there were only 2 Chinese citizens in the unit where Zhang Renbo served, and 10 in Wang Guangjun’s unit.

Quote from the interpreter: "Mostly they were made to do hard work; the Russians did not treat them badly, but kept them at arm’s length. Although there were a few people who were quite friendly."

Quote from Wang:"All the information was hidden from us, I only found out [where I was – UP] when we arrived on the spot."

Quote from Zhang: "The thing is that all the documents were in Russian. All the communication was in Russian."

Quote from Wang: "We didn't know exactly how much money we were supposed to get. We knew what each category was paid – 80,000 [about US$970], 160,000 roubles [about US$1,950], etc."

Quote from Zhang:"I received a card with 200,000 roubles [about US$2,400] on it, but I couldn't use the card itself. The phone, which had an application for the bank, was taken away by the Russians, and they spent [the money] allegedly on different necessities such as fuel."

Details: During the press conference, the Chinese citizens repeated several times that they were ready to take part in the exchange and asked to go home to China.

Read more: Zelenskyy posts video of interrogation of Chinese POWs captured in Donetsk Oblast – photos

Background: 

• On 8 April, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian troops in Donetsk Oblast had captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting in the ranks of the Russian military. Zelenskyy also noted that he had instructed Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to urgently contact Beijing to determine how China intends to respond.
• The two citizens of the People's Republic of China were captured in Donetsk Oblast by soldiers from the 81st Separate Airborne Slobozhanska Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces and the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade.
• Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine was ready to exchange captured Chinese citizens only for Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity, and the signal was conveyed.
• On 11 April, Zelenskyy stated that "at least several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting as part of Russia’s occupation forces", which means that Russia is trying to prolong the war even at the expense of Chinese lives.

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