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James Leaver

James Leaver is a journalist based in Kyiv. He has a BA and MA from the Department of War Studies, King's College London. He speaks English and Mandarin.

Articles

Luo Haizhou stands next to his Battalion's flag in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, undated.

'We have nothing left to fear' — Chinese volunteer soldiers in Ukraine

by James Leaver
Luo Haizhou had once asked to be referred to only by his call sign "Brunko," but his reticence has since gone. Luo recruits fellow Chinese volunteers for Ukraine's military, despite warnings from Chinese state security officers to his family back home. He knows that returning to his native Shenzhen is now impossible. "For the few dozen Chinese who have joined Ukraine's military, the choice may have cost them the option of ever returning home." Luo met with the Kyiv Independent a day before