Advertising encouraging Chinese individuals to enlist as mercenaries in the Ukraine war has been frequently posted on social media.
According to the British daily Guardian on the 10th (local time), recruitment ads easily found on Chinese social media emphasize monetary benefits while appealing to Namsung and aggression.
This is interpreted as aligning with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's claim that 155 Chinese individuals are joining the Russian military amid its active recruitment efforts. Russia and China deny this.
The ads state that those who enlist in the Russian military will receive a signing bonus ranging from 60,000 yuan (about 12 million won) to 200,000 yuan (about 39 million won), along with a monthly salary of around 18,000 yuan (about 3.5 million won).
Another ad, which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times across multiple platforms, depicts a strong-looking white man trading in everyday jobs like shopping mall security officer, fitness trainer, and taxi driver for a military uniform.
Subtitles in Russian and Chinese encourage viewers by saying, "Is this the path you wanted? Do you want to show your strength? You are a strong man. Be a man."
In another video ad, a man claiming to have already been recruited as a mercenary explains how to apply for enlistment.
There is also a video featuring a well-known Russian influencer explaining the salary and living, medical, and childcare benefits associated with enlistment in Chinese. The influencer states, "You will be provided with the best equipment and trained by experienced instructors" and adds, "Anyone under 60 can voluntarily enlist, regardless of whether they have served in the military abroad."
The Guardian reported that the videos garnered a range of comments, from inquiries about how to enlist and whether not speaking Russian would be a barrier to responses like, "You will be a bullet catcher."
Many responses indicate that the salary level is better than what is received in the Chinese military. The Guardian noted, "Considering that Chinese social media is strictly monitored and controlled, the fact that such ads have remained for months suggests that authorities have at least not been concerned about this issue."
The recent interview with Chinese journalist and author Chai Jing, who spoke with Chinese individuals participating as Russian mercenaries, serves as a case showing the effectiveness of such advertising.
This mercenary, who previously served in the Chinese military and enlisted in the Russian military in 2023, stated that the main motivation was gaining war experience that could not be obtained in the Chinese military, and that salary levels also influenced this decision.
He reported that while he could enlist in either the Russian or Ukrainian military, more Chinese individuals are participating in the Russian military because obtaining a visa is easier.
Ukraine has stated that it does not recruit mercenaries, but it allows volunteers to join.