- Category
- Latest news
Video of Captured Chinese POWs Serving With Russian Forces in Ukraine Seem to Trigger Coordinated Bot Attack
- Authors
![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
On April 15, 2025, UNITED24 Media published exclusive footage showing two Chinese nationals who were captured while fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine. In the video, the men describe being misled by Russian recruiters with promises of high pay and easy assignments before being sent directly to the front lines.
@united24.media At a rare press briefing, two Chinese POWs detail how they ended up on the front lines in Ukraine — allegedly without state backing. Isolated, disoriented, and used as cannon fodder by Russian forces, they now speak out. #soldier #prisoner
♬ original sound - United24
Shortly after its release on TikTok, the video went viral in China and triggered a wave of activity in the comments section.
Thousands of accounts flooded the post, many claiming the individuals “don’t sound Chinese,” suggesting they were actors, or asserting that their accents resembled Taiwanese speech.
The influx of similar messages, often using identical phrasing and appearing within seconds of one another, suggested a coordinated bot operation.
Earlier, two Chinese nationals were captured by Ukrainian forces during their first combat mission in Donetsk. According to Ukrainian intelligence, both men were recruited by Russian agents—one inside China, the other after arriving in Russia as a “tourist.”
They were promised money and benefits but were quickly sent to the frontline. The Security Service of Ukraine has since released footage from their interrogations and is verifying their testimonies.
