Only Chinese National Volunteer Fighter for Ukraine Killed in Action; Longed for Democracy and Freedom During His Life

The image shows Russian Special Forces (Spetsnaz) soldiers. (Video screenshot)

[November 11, 2024] News from a Taiwanese volunteer soldier in the Ukrainian army reports that Peng Chenliang, the only volunteer soldier for Ukraine from mainland China, has recently died in action.

On the afternoon of November 10, Taiwanese pastor Huang Chunsheng posted on Facebook that 29-year-old Peng Chenliang (also known as Farias), from Yunnan, was the only soldier from mainland China in the Ukrainian military. He wished to oppose Russia’s authoritarianism in Ukraine, and he once posted pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia remarks on Twitter (now known as X). These statements led to a report against him, and he was detained in a Chinese detention center for seven months. Afterward, he made a determined decision to leave China and join the International Legion in Ukraine.

According to Huang Chunsheng, Peng Chenliang arrived in Ukraine this April. He was once swindled out of over a thousand dollars by another Chinese individual who promised to help him with formalities but then disappeared with the money, causing Peng to fall into financial hardship. Later, Peng received assistance from Taiwanese volunteers and locals.

Peng considered Lviv, Ukraine, his home and met a Ukrainian girlfriend there. He expressed admiration for Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, hoping to visit Taiwan one day. “If killed in action, he wished to be covered with the Taiwanese flag and buried in Ukraine, the land of freedom.”

Huang added that before Peng’s contract with the First Battalion of the Ukrainian Legion expired, he applied to transfer to the Second Battalion, where three Taiwanese volunteers were stationed. However, he was tragically killed by a shell during his last mission before transferring.

Huang Chunsheng told Taiwan's Central News Agency that this information came from a Taiwanese volunteer soldier in the Ukrainian Legion. Huang clarified that online rumors falsely claimed Peng Chenliang was the third Taiwanese soldier killed, hence the special post to clarify.

Huang’s post also included Peng’s photo, noting that he had received training in a U.S. military training camp. Peng appreciated the democracy and freedom in the U.S. and wore a uniform with the American flag. When asked if he was American, he would respond in English that he was "an American, spiritually."

After nearly a year of military tension, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) outwardly claims to maintain “neutrality” between Russia and Ukraine, though its position leans more toward Russia, supplying Moscow with key components for weapons production. In an interview with the BBC in April, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that if the CCP does not stop, the U.S. will take action.

Editor: Li Renhe