China Rejects 'Manipulation' After Soldiers Captured in Ukraine Say Russia Fed Them Lies

China rejected "manipulation" related to the capture of two nationals while fighting for Russia inside Ukraine after they told press they were "fed lies" by Moscow to get them to the front lines.

"China is verifying the relevant information and circumstances," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Tuesday. He added that the country urges all "relevant parties to accurately understand China's objective and impartial stance, and to refrain from manipulation and hype."

The reaction comes a day after the captured Chinese citizens spoke to press in Ukraine, detailing how they were recruited and the dire conditions experienced as part of the Russian army. Ukraine claimed it has confirmed there at least more than 150 Chinese citizens fighting for Moscow.

Wang Guangjun said he was recruited through TikTok and paid to join the ranks. He was taken from Kazan to Rostov-on-Don and then to Ukraine's Donetsk region. He went on to say that it was not possible to even consider escaping because "the moment you join the training camp, every time you go to the bathroom, even in the middle of the night, there will be a soldier following you with a loaded rifle."

"In Rostov, there was once an incident where a foreigner committed suicide in the middle of the night, the actual reason... specifically, we don't know," Wang detailed. He also said the camp was in poor conditions and only got one or two meals a day. Plus, the place had no running water or electricity.

In another passage of the exchange, Wang said "all Russia fed us are lies" and that Moscow "isn't as strong as they claim." He then urged his compatriots to not join the war. He explained he had watched "flashy and cool" videos on Chinese social media platform Douyin and since "in China, the status and social identity of a Chinese soldier is very high, especially in the hearts of the public," he decided to join Moscow."

"When you are in China and have no chance of being a soldier, and you see this kind of opportunity, you feel a stirring of the heart," Wang said. He added that he saw a video promoting a job providing rehabilitation therapy and that role said there would be no fighting,

"When I arrived in Moscow and reported for work, they also told me the same. But after I followed them to the recruitment office and signed up, and then went to the training camp, I was no longer in control of my situation," Wang detailed. He was told by Chinese authorities not to cross into Russia, but he did it anyway.

Zhang Renbo, on his end, said he worked as a firefighter in Shanghai and traveled to Russia on vacation. Seeking to "earn a bit of money," he was offered a work in construction. He later realized the job was in the warzone.

"The Chinese media and state media always emphasized our friendship with Russia, so we always have trusted them. Because of this trust, perhaps we have been taken advantage of," Zhang said.

Both Chinese citizens said they agreed to speak publicly in hopes China would notice them and negotiate their return. It is unclear whether Beijing will do so.