Chinese prisoners reveal: Russia's military power is just an illusion

Chinese prisoners reveal: Russia's military power is just an illusion FOCUS online editorial team • 5 hours • 2 minutes reading time Two Chinese men were captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia as mercenaries. At a press conference held by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, they reported that they were lured by Russia with false promises. One of the two men explained that he was recruited through an ad on TikTok and taken through several locations in Russia, including the contested Donetsk region. The other prisoner of war was originally in Russia as a tourist and had seen an ad promising him two million rubles if he joined the Russian army. Both emphasized that they have no connection to the Chinese government. Poor living conditions and lack of supplies The two men recount their experiences at the front. They say that the Russian armed forces are nowhere near as strong as they claim. They describe how they were misled by Russian propaganda. Instead of the impressive military strength that Russia claims to have, they experienced a very different picture on the front lines. Their statements suggest that Russia recruits fighters with big promises, only to be confronted with the harsh reality. According to the British newspaper "The Telegraph," the two men described terrible conditions in the Russian camps. There was barely any water or electricity, and food was very scarce. Wang recounted that they had to work until the early hours of the morning and were given only "a small amount of raw rice." These accounts are consistent with statements by North Korean soldiers who experienced similar problems. Despite the poor conditions, both prisoners want to return to China, even though they know they could face punishment there.