**Interview with Su Zudong: A Chinese Volunteer in Ukraine**

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, is approaching its two-year mark, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers dead or injured, with no signs of cessation. Inspired by the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people, volunteers from around the world have rushed to the front lines, and among them is Su Zudong, a Chinese national living in Germany. Since the onset of the war, he has made countless trips to Ukraine to offer aid and support, even founding a grassroots aid organization, expressing his dedication by saying he wants to “share life and death with this country.”

Originally from China, Su has lived in Germany for many years, where he was enjoying a stable life with his family and working in the travel and restaurant industries. However, upon hearing about the Russian invasion and witnessing civilians fleeing for their lives on the news, he felt compelled to do something. He began driving his own car to the Poland-Ukraine border to assist refugees, and the kindness of the Ukrainian people left a lasting impression on him.

Since those initial rescue missions, Su has remained actively engaged in volunteer work. During our interview, he counted 22 entry stamps in his passport, indicating he had traveled to Ukraine about once a month over the past two years. Each trip involves a long drive from Frankfurt, Germany, to the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa—a journey of at least three days covering around 2,500 kilometers. To prepare for these trips, he ensures he brings plenty of dry food, water, and clothing.

In his travels, Su has met numerous Ukrainian civilians, soldiers, and fellow volunteers, gaining insights into where aid is most urgently needed. He established the “Odesa Combat Cats,” a civilian aid organization aimed at making humanitarian efforts more systematic and organized. According to Su, volunteers provide food to elderly homes and war refugees, offer free English classes for young Ukrainians, and collect clothing, generators, and power banks for those in need, including both civilians and soldiers. They also fundraise to support animals displaced by the war and families of soldiers who have lost children.

Su explains, “Each round trip I make is about 5,000 kilometers; on top of that, I’ve been involved in extensive logistical work with the ‘Combat Cats’ to deliver supplies. In total, I’ve made over 20 trips, which adds up to at least 160,000 kilometers driven for Ukraine.”

Beyond gathering and transporting supplies, Su has also used funds to open bubble tea shops in Ukraine, with the fourth location soon to launch. This initiative employs local youth aged 18 to 25, allowing them to work and contribute to their nation with dignity before they may be called to military service.

Looking to the future, Su asserts that if the war continues, he will remain in Ukraine. The bonds he has formed through shared struggles in these two years have been profound. He notes that hearing air raid sirens in the middle of the night has become routine, and he recounts witnessing artillery explode in Odesa while clearly remembering the smell of burnt buildings. During one harrowing experience in Kherson, he was delivering food just one kilometer away from where a shell exploded.

Reflecting on his experiences, Su shares, “The conviction of Ukrainians to sacrifice for their country has seeped into my very soul. My family has three generations of military service; my elders fought against the Japanese, and I am also a veteran. I always wished to do something just and meaningful for the world, and today I finally feel like I’ve created a fulfilling connection in my life.”

Su has witnessed the resilience of the Ukrainian people throughout this prolonged conflict. He has observed that, despite millions fleeing the country at the onset of the war, a significant portion—around 90%—of Ukrainians have chosen to return to their war-torn homeland. This sense of national solidarity has deeply moved him. In Kherson, he saw flowers growing amidst bullet holes—men fighting on the frontlines, while women and the elderly tended to their damaged homes, planting flowers, and caring for their pets as they bravely continued their lives.

Dressing in military green and sporting arm patches of Ukraine and Taiwan, the latter honoring a Taiwanese volunteer, Tseng Sheng Guang, who died in Ukraine, Su received the patch from Tseng’s mother during a visit to Taiwan last year.

“This patch signifies my stance. I stand with the Ukrainian people. No matter what lies ahead or what I might encounter, I’ve made up my mind to share life and death with this country.”