Lemmy isnt leftist. The group calling itself leftist the most here is at the same time cheering on ultranationalist governments who are in the middle of genocides.
China and russia arent communist. They are capitalist societies with strong protectionism and a huge imbalance between classes. The government owns all companies but the people don't have any say over the government so it cannot be argued that the means of production are in the hands of the people.