Chinese nationals are increasingly being drawn into Russia’s war in Ukraine, suffering high casualties while being treated as disposable manpower by the Russian military. Investigative journalists from the Russian outlet Important Stories have revealed that at least 51 Chinese citizens passed through a Russian military recruitment centre in Moscow over the past year. These individuals were identified through a leak of documents linked to the recruitment process.
According to the investigation, 31 Chinese applicants arrived in 2023 and another 20 joined the process in early 2024. The majority had just arrived in Moscow when they signed up. At least four returned to China after attending the selection centre. The youngest of the group was 20 years old and the oldest 51. At least one has been confirmed dead in combat, while several others have been seriously injured.
Russia has reportedly lured Chinese recruits with promises of quick money. Online propaganda videos targeting Chinese viewers advertise signing bonuses between 60,000 and 200,000 yuan (approximately £6,650 to £22,200 or $8,000 to $27,000), with a monthly salary of around 18,000 yuan (roughly £2,000 or $2,500). These videos highlight excitement and financial gain, concealing the brutal reality that many recruits are treated as expendable by Russian commanders.
A Chinese mercenary who fought with Russian troops, Zhou Zhiqiang, told investigators that Russian soldiers “do not consider them human.” Another Chinese fighter, known by the nickname “Red Macaroon,” said they were being used as “cannon fodder.” He added that when he complained about poor equipment, he was punished by being thrown into a pit alongside deserters.
The presence of Chinese fighters on the battlefield has drawn international attention. While some join Russia’s ranks, a small number of Chinese nationals have also volunteered to fight for Ukraine. One such volunteer, Peng Chenliang from Yunnan Province, spent seven months in a Chinese detention centre in 2023 for posting pro-Ukrainian and anti-Russian content online. After his release, he joined the Ukrainian Foreign Legion in 2024, where he later died in combat. Before his death, Peng made a video holding the Taiwanese flag, expressing his wish to be remembered alongside another Taiwanese volunteer, Zeng Shengkuang, who died fighting for Ukraine in 2022.
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