A Chinese-German volunteer, Brother Dong, is bringing bubble tea to wartorn Ukraine, driven by a desire to support the country under siege by China's ally. The 52-year-old former Chinese police officer drives monthly from Frankfurt to collect tapioca pearls in Berlin, then across Poland to Ukraine. He opened a bubble tea shop in Odesa in 2022, crowdfunding over $12,000, and now runs four Maomi cafes in Ukrainian cities, stocking Asian drinks and snacks. Bubble tea, Taiwan's unofficial national drink, is popular across China and East Asia, with chewy tapioca 'bubbles' made from cassava root. Brother Dong's shops are adorned with pictures of Chinese and Taiwanese soldiers killed in the fight against the Russian invasion, symbolizing courage and support. Each round trip to collect pearls can be up to 5,000km, and Brother Dong also distributes blankets, gloves, and portable heaters in Ukraine. He's one of a growing band of Chinese volunteers supporting Ukraine, despite Beijing's support for Moscow and China's claims of neutrality. Chinese businesses have opened in Russian-occupied Luhansk, and there are concerns about Chinese support for Russia's military operations. Chinese people in Ukraine face suspicion and harassment from Beijing, but volunteers like Brother Dong and Du Yinghong aim to win over doubts and support Ukraine. The Chinese diaspora also draws attention to ethnically Chinese people killed fighting for Ukraine, such as Peng Chenliang and Tseng Sheng-guang. Brother Dong's journey began in the 1990s, leaving the Chinese armed forces and settling in Germany. He questioned his loyalty to the CCP during the pandemic when his mother-in-law couldn't see a doctor due to restrictions, leading to her death. He applied for German citizenship and now wants to support Ukraine through peaceful methods, despite the risks of publicly declaring support.
