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Videos encouraging Chinese citizens to join the Russian army as mercenaries are circulating on Chinese social media. Some of the clips appear to be professionally produced propaganda from Russian sources, while others are amateur recordings or screenshots with instructions on how to enlist. Despite their varied formats, the core message is the same — to promote the supposed benefits of participating in the war on Russia’s side.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday that two Chinese nationals were captured in the Donetsk region and are suspected of serving in the Russian armed forces. According to him, these are not isolated incidents — there are currently at least 155 Chinese mercenaries fighting on Russia’s side.
Despite China’s stated neutrality in the war, the countries’ leaders — Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin — maintain a close political alliance often referred to as a “no limits” partnership.
President Zelensky has called on Beijing to officially explain why it continues to ignore evidence of its citizens being recruited. He noted that Russia is actively using Chinese platforms, such as Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), to find mercenaries. Numerous videos openly promote financial incentives, offering enlistment bonuses ranging from $7,700 to $27,000 and a monthly salary of around $2,400.
“Official Beijing is aware of this. The Russians are using Chinese social media to circulate recruitment videos. The fact that this recruitment isn’t hidden is significant. There may also be covert recruitment,” President Zelensky said.
Previously, the French outlet Le Monde reported that it had identified around 40 accounts on Douyin — the Chinese-only version of TikTok — in which users claimed they had served in the Russian military.
One widely shared video with Chinese subtitles depicts Europeans quitting their jobs to become “real men” on the battlefield. Other clips feature testimonials from individuals who have already signed contracts with the Russian military, including step-by-step guides on how to enlist. In some cases, Russian bloggers address a Chinese audience directly in Mandarin, promoting enlistment perks such as signing bonuses, salaries, housing, and medical support.
Among Chinese users, comments expressing interest in joining the Russian military are increasingly common—even from those who don’t speak Russian. Some users inquire about recruitment centers in their local areas. The main driver appears to be financial: the promised income significantly exceeds what an average worker in China typically earns.
In response to President Zelensky’s statements, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the government does not encourage its citizens to participate in armed conflicts and urges them to stay away from military activity. On Thursday, he called for restraint from making “irresponsible comments.”
However, the continued public availability of recruitment videos—some online for months—suggests a lack of meaningful effort by Chinese authorities to remove them. This is particularly notable given the strict censorship typically applied to politically sensitive content on Chinese platforms.
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