Man Arrested in Ukraine Had Been Selling Missile Fragment Souvenirs on Chinese Second-Hand App
On July 8, Ukraine said it detained a Chinese father and son who were suspected of spying on Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missile programme. According to Reuters, two men were the first Chinese people arrested on accusations of spying since the war started in 2022. Two days later, the Chinese MoFA said it’s verifying the information. Spokesperson Mao Ning said, “If any Chinese citizens are involved, we will safeguard their lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law.“
Information posted by Chinese netizens on social media indicates that the son arrested maintained accounts on Bilibili and Xianyu platforms.
According to his social media posts, he stated last year that he had applied to join Ukraine's International Legion and claimed he would sign a formal military contract with Ukraine.
The account posted multiple unboxing videos on Bilibili, the Chinese equivalent of YouTube, featuring military debris. The videos showcased battle-damaged camouflage uniforms, aircraft fragments, and missile remnants, with him providing commentary on military-related knowledge. There’s a clear record that he’s a pro-Ukraine military enthusiast.
The account on Xianyu(咸鱼), an online marketplace for second-hand goods, shows that he processed weapon fragments into "luggage tags" for sale. The account featured listings for second-hand military items and weapon debris.
