On November 1, in the eastern battlefield of Ukraine, Taiwanese volunteer Wu Zhongda was unfortunately killed in a fierce battle with the Russian army at the age of 44. Wu Zhongda is the second Taiwanese volunteer to die in this war after Zeng Shengguang was killed in the Ukrainian battlefield in 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan has confirmed his death and is assisting Wu Zhongda's family to go to Ukraine to handle the funeral.

According to Taiwanese media reports, Wu Zhongda was a special forces soldier of the Taiwan Army. He joined the Ukrainian International Corps last year and subsequently served in the Ukrainian special operations team and participated in front-line operations many times. On the day of the incident, he and his teammates were bombarded by Russian artillery while performing tasks in the Russian-controlled area. He died of serious injuries and sacrificed his life heroically.

Friends and comrades mourned Wu Zhongda, and his heroic image is immortal

Wu Zhongda won the respect of his teammates and the affectionate mourning of his comrades on the battlefield. Chinese-American soldier Kang Kai (Freeman) praised Wu Zhongda as a "real hero" on social media and expressed deep grief. Kang Kai mentioned that he had communicated with Wu Zhongda on the day of the incident, and learned that he had died a few hours later.

Volunteer "Feida" from Hong Kong also expressed his condolences to Wu Zhongda to the Taiwanese media. He specifically mentioned that the Russian army has always used the remains of enemy soldiers for propaganda, and called on the Taiwanese media and the public not to pay too much attention to the location of Wu Zhongda's remains to avoid being used by the Russian side. "Feida" pointed out that Russia often uses the remains of fallen soldiers as a means of propaganda, and he hopes that Taiwan can keep a low profile and protect Wu Zhongda's remains from being used by the Russian side.

Fearless of battlefield dangers, the volunteers' beliefs support their choices

Wu Zhongda's mother said during the condolence that she respected her son's decision and followed his last wishes and would not forcibly bring his remains back to Taiwan. She said that her son had told her that if he died unfortunately, he would let him rest in peace on the battlefield and continue to guard the place he fought for. Wu Zhongda returned to Taiwan to recuperate this summer, but after recovering from his injuries, he resolutely chose to return to Ukraine to fight, showing his unyielding will and firm belief.

As a single father, Wu Zhongda has three young children who are taken care of by relatives. Although his family is worried about his safety, Wu Zhongda was interviewed at the airport when he returned to the battlefield, saying that his choice was to protect freedom and called on the people of Taiwan to cherish peace. He revealed in the interview that although his family did not know his exact whereabouts, he believed that the belief in fighting for freedom was worth his risk.

Support and condolences from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the public in Taiwan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan confirmed the news of Wu Zhongda's death and said that it would assist his family in communicating with the Ukrainian side and properly handle the aftermath. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Shen Boyang also confirmed Wu Zhongda's death to the outside world and expressed his condolences for his sacrifice.

Wu Zhongda's story also inspired other Taiwanese volunteers. Although the battlefield is full of dangers, Taiwanese volunteers serving in Ukraine have said that they will continue to stick to their beliefs and defend the values of freedom. There are still six Taiwanese volunteers serving in Ukraine, and their bravery and loyalty have received widespread attention from the society.

Joint action of international volunteers: faith across borders

Not only Taiwanese volunteers, but also volunteers from different countries have chosen to fight side by side on the battlefield in Ukraine. One of them is Chinese-American soldier Kang Kai, who was born in Northeast China and educated at Peking University. He later moved to the United States and joined the Navy. Before joining the Ukrainian International Legion, Kang Kai had publicly expressed his firm belief in freedom and democracy, and said that if he died on the battlefield, he hoped that his son would remember his dedication to the cause of democracy.

Kang Kai once left a "last word" on social media, calling himself an "idealist" who was eager to put his ideas of supporting democracy into action. No matter what kind of sacrifice he faced, he did not regret coming to Ukraine to fight for his ideals. These international volunteers crossed borders, shouldered common values and beliefs, and formed a strong front to defend freedom.

The ordinary side of battlefield heroes: caring for life and sowing warmth

According to Taiwanese pastor Huang Chunsheng, Wu Zhongda was not completely immersed in the tense atmosphere of war when he was on the front line. He still maintained his kindness and caring for life on the battlefield, often distributing supplies to local elderly people and villagers, and even taking care of animals wandering on the battlefield. Pastor Huang shared Wu Zhongda's life on social media, expressing his remembrance and gratitude for him, calling him a "warrior with a warm heart."

Wu Zhongda's sacrifice has attracted widespread attention and mourning in Taiwan and internationally. He infected everyone around him with his fearless actions and selfless spirit, interpreting the warm side of a soldier outside the battlefield. Wu Zhongda is not only a brave soldier, but also a kind ordinary person. His story inspires more people to understand and cherish peace and freedom.

Warriors who paid the price for freedom, their spirit lives on

Wu Zhongda and other volunteers made indelible contributions to faith and justice with their blood and lives. In this cross-border struggle, Taiwanese volunteers not only defended their beliefs on the battlefield, but also became a bridge between the nation and the international community. Regardless of the war, their sacrifice has made more people aware of the importance of peace. It is this firm belief that allows them to transcend nationality and fight for higher values.