Latest news with #UkrainianAirAssaultForces
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
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy says several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that "at least several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting as part of Russia's occupation forces," which shows that Russia is trying to prolong the war even at the cost of Chinese lives. Source: Zelenskyy during the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format on 11 April Quote: "As of now, we have information that at least several hundred Chinese nationals are fighting as part of Russia's occupation forces. This means Russia is clearly trying to prolong the war – even by using Chinese lives. Putin wasn't satisfied with soldiers from North Korea. Now he is trying to cover his shortages by pulling in yet another nation – the Chinese. How long can he keep doing this? We must work together to make such questions not about Moscow's choices, but about our joint pressure on Moscow – because that's the only way it will work." 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. US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce stressed China's role in supporting Russian aggression after evidence had been published of Chinese citizens participating in the war against Ukraine. On 9 April, Zelenskyy said that 155 Chinese citizens were fighting against Ukraine on its territory, but there could be more. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unit behind capture of Chinese nationals in Donetsk Oblast revealed
Soldiers from the 81st Separate Slobozhanska Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces were the ones who captured the two citizens of the People's Republic of China fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast. Source: press service for the 81st Brigade on Facebook; Ukrainska Pravda sources within Ukraine's defence forces Details: The Chinese nationals are reported to have taken part in combat on Russia's side, operating in the war zone as armed members of a Russian military unit. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are currently conducting all necessary procedural actions with the prisoners. The Ukrainska Pravda sources report that mentions of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia on the Siversk front had been appearing in intercepted Russian military communications for several weeks. However, it is only after the first two Chinese soldiers have been captured that this information has been confirmed. Read also: The battle for the white hills. What's really happening in Bilohorivka, which hardly ever makes the news Background: On 8 April, President Volodymyr 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 find out how China intends to respond. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry summoned the chargé d'affaires of China in Ukraine, seeking an explanation regarding the involvement of Chinese nationals in combat on Russia's side. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ukrainian paratroopers take 8 Russian soldiers prisoner in Kursk Oblast
Ukraine's defence forces have captured eight Russian servicemen in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Source: Command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces Quote: "Mobilised and contract soldiers who were looking for adventure are another addition to the exchange fund of the Air Assault Troops in Kursk Oblast. Eight servicemen of the Russian army were captured by paratroopers and their brothers-in-arms in Kursk Oblast. The prisoners were provided with timely medical and psychological assistance. In their units on the territory of the Russian Federation, they were subjected to inhumane treatment, torture and executions for not fulfilling criminal orders." Details: The Air Assault Troops noted that "the prisoners of war are well treated, safe and are likely to wait for an exchange".Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast convinced they fight against South Korean soldiers
Representatives of the North Korean secret services tell their soldiers in Russia's Kursk Oblast that they are fighting not only against Ukrainians but also South Korean troops. Source: North Korean soldier Ri, 26, who was captured by the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, in an interview with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo Quote from interview with Ri: "Were there security officers from the Ministry of State Security embedded in your unit? Each battalion (about 500 soldiers) had one or two. Did they strictly enforce ideological and disciplinary control? They monitored both our duties and our ideology. Before the battle, one of them told me that all the drone operators in Ukraine's military were South Korean soldiers. Did everyone believe that during combat? (Nods.) So you fought thinking you were up against not only Ukrainian forces but also South Korean troops? (Nods.) Did that make you fight even more desperately? It was our first real combat experience. The fight wouldn't be easy. From the start of training, it wasn't just about physical endurance. It was ideological. Mountain marches, endurance drills, shooting practice… all of it fueled by sheer willpower. Dropping out was considered disgraceful, so we trained like our lives depended on it." Details: In the interview, the North Korean also said that before being sent to Russia, he was told that he was going there as a student to study. Quote from Ri: "I had no idea that I would be taking part in hostilities,' Ri adds. Details: Ri travelled to Russia as part of a party of 2,500 other compatriots on 10 October 2024. They arrived in Kursk around mid-December (they travelled by train, then by plane and finally by bus). Regarding the difficulties of "working" with the Russian military, Ri, who was promoted to the position of reconnaissance sniper, said: "As low-level soldiers, we had little interaction. Everything was handled by higher-ranking superiors – ammunition, supplies, clothing. There was little direct communication between North Korean and Russian soldiers." The North Korean soldiers used translation apps to communicate with the Russians. Ri also noted that it was the first time he had used such an app and that he had never communicated with foreigners before. When asked if he had heard much about South Korea, Ri said that not much. Background: On 11 January, it was reported that Ukrainian forces had captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) released a video showing their operatives capturing and transporting a North Korean soldier, an event previously reported by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Another captured North Korean soldier was also shown in a video posted by Ukraine's Air Assault Forces. A fake military ID discovered on a captured North Korean soldier in Kursk Oblast was issued in the name of a real person from the Russian republic of Tyva (Tuva). A North Korean soldier captured by the Special Operations Forces in Kursk confirmed that he had fake Russian documents. South Korea assured that it was ready to accept North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine if they agreed to defect. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
