Chinese priest who bragged of joining Ukraine war & posed in Russian military gear wins Scottish bagpiping contest

A CHINESE “priest” who boasts of joining in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has won a bagpiping contest in Scotland. Cheng Bohan, 26, has shared a video online of himself in full ­Russian military gear brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle and a rocket-propelled grenade. Chinese ‘priest’ Cheng Bohan, 26, who has boasted online of joining Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, has won a bagpiping event in Scotland, above Credit: Supplied Bohan pictured in occupied Donetsk Credit: Supplied In another clip, he wears army fatigues as he plays the pipes in front a banner of the Wagner group, state-funded mercenaries banned as terrorists in Britain. Bohan is pictured in body armour emblazoned with a Russian flag in April 2025 and was appeared in a further clip proclaiming “Glory to airborne forces” outside Moscow’s defence ministry. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Just last month, he shared a post from occupied Donetsk of himself clutching a gun captioned: “For Russia.” He has also worn the insignia of the notorious Pyatnashka Brigade, part of the Russian Volunteer Assault Corps, known for recruiting foreign fighters. Yet Bohan, who claims he only visits Ukraine to distribute aid, has made several visits to Scotland in recent years and was back on a visa last week where he played at the Nairn Highland Games. Described as chairman of China Bagpipe Association in his social media profiles, he had earlier bagged two amateur class wins at the World Piping Championships in Glasgow. The Sun caught up with Bohan, who is from Guangzhou, at the event where he was dressed in a Royal Stewart tartan and traditional Glengarry hat. When faced with the proof of his pro-war posts, he claimed it was a “cosplay” — performance art where people dress up in costumes and accessories. Most read in The Sun Bohan plays the pipes in front a banner of the Wagner group – state-funded mercenaries banned as terrorists in Britain Credit: Supplied Bohan, chief executive officer of the Daoist Association of Russia, denied fighting for Putin and said he would be in trouble in his homeland if he did Credit: AP He said: “In China it’s very popular.” He added that wearing Russian uniform was a mark of “respect”. Bohan, chief executive officer of the Daoist Association of Russia, denied fighting for Putin and said he would be in trouble in his homeland if he did. He said: “If you are Chinese and you join, you get arrested. It’s against the law, you know. It’s a mercenary thing.” Asked if he had linked up with Russian fighters in Ukraine, he replied: “Not that I know of.” And quizzed on whether he could understand criticism of his actions, he said: “I understand. Britain is supporting Ukraine. Because I am Chinese I don’t bring all these warfare related here. That’s why I only wear kilt in Scotland.” Scotland’s National Piping Centre said it was not aware of his military posts. A spokesman added: “Mr Bohan is a paying CLASP (the Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers) member for the 2025–26 year and has entered competitions on that basis. “Mr Bohan has not received any grant, financial assistance or other support from the National Piping Centre. The NPC has also never sponsored or supported a visa application for Mr Bohan.”