Latest news with #157thSeparateMechanisedBrigade
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Captured Chinese soldiers talk about treatment in Russian army, say they want to return to China
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. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy: We are ready to exchange Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity
Ukraine is ready to exchange the captured Chinese nationals only for Ukrainian soldiers currently held in Russian captivity, and a corresponding signal has been sent. Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with journalists; Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "We thought that one of them wouldn't survive due to injuries. They underwent appropriate surgeries, and they are alive and currently in Ukraine. We would like to exchange them. We are ready to exchange them only for Ukrainian soldiers who are in Russian captivity. We have sent this signal." Details: The captured Chinese citizens are Wang Guanzhun, 33, captured on 4 April 2025 in the village of Bilohorivka, Donetsk Oblast, by the soldiers of the 81st Separate Airborne Brigade, and Zhang Renbo, 26, captured on 5 April 2025 near the village of Tarasivka, Donetsk Oblast, by the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade. Zelenskyy reported that these two Chinese nationals had been brought to the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv. "I think we will give journalists the opportunity to speak with them. I think it will be appropriate. They are more talkative than the prisoners from North Korea, as we can see," the president added. 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. A Chinese citizen captured by Ukrainian forces during the fighting near the settlement of Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast revealed that he joined the Russian military through an intermediary in China, paying RUB 300,000 (approximately US$3,480). His motivation was the promise of Russian citizenship. He underwent military training in occupied Luhansk Oblast, where he had no interpreter, relying instead on gestures and a phone to communicate. Beijing, in response to reports of the capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia in Ukraine, said it was checking the information and stressed that it had consistently urged its citizens to refrain from participating in any form of armed conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that 155 Chinese nationals are fighting against Ukraine on its territory, although the number may be higher. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russians strike military training ground in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, fatalities reported
Ukraine's Ground Forces have reported that on 1 March, one of their units became the target of a Russian missile strike. Earlier, reports emerged on social media about a Russian attack on a training ground in the village of Cherkaska, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where Ukrainian soldiers of the 157th Separate Mechanised Brigade were located. Source: volunteer Serhii Sternenko on Telegram; Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi on Facebook; Ukrainian Ground Forces on Facebook; Ukrainska Pravda sources from within and outside the defence forces Quote from Ground Forces: "On 1 March, one of the units of the Ukrainian Ground Forces was targeted in a Russian missile strike. Unfortunately, there are fatalities and casualties. The command and personnel of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine extend their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the servicemen who lost their lives in this missile strike. A thorough investigation is currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the incident. The Military Law Enforcement Service and law enforcement agencies are being provided with all necessary information to ensure maximum transparency in the investigation." Details: Volunteer Serhii Sternenko reported on 2 March that Russian forces struck a training ground with Ukrainian military personnel in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, located 100-130 km from the front line. Quote from Sternenko: "The strike was adjusted by a Russian reconnaissance UAV. It was not shot down because a full-fledged system is still not in place. The Air Command Skhid (East) currently has the worst indicators for implementing drone-based air defence. Previously, the commander of this command even prohibited training flights with FPV drones. The consequences were already felt – such as the strike on a Patriot system. There was no accountability. None." Details: Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi stated that he is personally overseeing every step to clarify the incident minute by minute. "Because it hurts me too. Because anger is eating me up," he wrote. Quote from Drapatyi: "I waited for initial data to avoid speculation, and now I must warn: everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who failed to make them on time, will be held accountable. No one will hide behind explanations or formal reports." More details: Drapatyi noted that he expects attempts to obscure the truth under bureaucratic procedures. Quote from Drapatyi: "But I will not allow that. I have ordered an independent investigation involving military counterintelligence to ensure that no detail is overlooked and that those responsible are identified and cannot 'cover it up'. I will demand the harshest punishment. Those who, after years of war, continue to perform their duties carelessly and formally, those who drag the military into outdated procedures, neglecting their safety and those who assert their authority not in battle but by oppressing their subordinates – all of them disgrace the Armed Forces of Ukraine." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
