Beijing embarrassed as Ukraine parades captured Chinese soldiers, breaking international law
Kyiv: In a provocative move that has drawn international scrutiny, Ukraine has paraded two Chinese nationals captured while fighting alongside Russian forces in eastern Donetsk. The decision, reportedly approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, was made in direct response to China’s denial that any of its citizens were involved in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The action marks a violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the public display and identification of prisoners of war (PoWs). Nevertheless, Kyiv opted to make the display public, citing the need to counter Beijing’s repeated denials.
Last week, President Zelensky stated that Ukraine had identified 155 Chinese nationals actively participating in combat on its territory. He accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese citizens and providing them with military training. The Ukrainian leader also alleged that two of these individuals were captured in eastern Donetsk, claims China had dismissed as baseless.
In response, China’s foreign ministry reiterated, “China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party.” It urged all parties to “correctly and soberly understand the role of China” and refrain from making “irresponsible remarks.”
The captured Chinese PoWs were presented before the press in full combat fatigues. Speaking through a translator, the men recounted their experiences and motivations. According to CNN, which attended the media briefing, one of the PoWs said he joined the war for financial reasons, lured by a Russian offer of 250,000 rubles (approximately $3,000) per month—more than twice what he earned in China.
The individual, who previously worked in medical rehabilitation, claimed he was reassigned to combat duties after undergoing military training in Moscow. Language barriers and lack of documentation in Mandarin complicated their experience, they said.
Ukraine also released copies of the prisoners’ passports and military documents to further verify their identities.
Ukrainian intelligence reportedly showed CNN a signed contract from another Chinese volunteer, not present at the press briefing, indicating formal enlistment in the Russian military. The contract included commitments to combat participation and support during martial law, emergencies, and anti-terrorism activities.
These revelations raise questions about the extent of Beijing’s knowledge or involvement. When asked, President Zelensky said, “I don't have an answer to this question yet. The Security Service of Ukraine will work on it.” However, he noted that Kyiv has “reason to believe that Beijing is aware of what is happening.”
Observers say the unusual move was aimed not only at shaming China but also at drawing attention from the United States. With the Trump administration focusing on economic rivalry with Beijing and U.S. aid to Ukraine declining, Kyiv may be seeking to rekindle Western interest by highlighting China’s indirect involvement in the war.
While Beijing maintains a neutral stance, it has continued to offer economic and diplomatic support to Moscow. The exposure of Chinese fighters in Ukraine has intensified scrutiny of its true position in the conflict.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) strongly discourages the exposure of PoWs to the media, viewing it as a serious violation of humanitarian norms. Legal experts warn that Ukraine’s actions may compromise its moral standing in the international arena.
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Andhra to be developed as knowledge, creator economy hub: CM Naidu
New Delhi/Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state is taking steps to transform itself into a knowledge and creator economy hub with a strong focus on artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
He noted that Andhra Pradesh has abundant tech-driven youth and the government is formulating plans to train them in futuristic technologies with support from global technology firms.
"Our goal is to transform Andhra Pradesh into a knowledge hub by focusing on AI, quantum computing, data centres, drone cities and space cities. The youth will remain our biggest asset over the next 25 years, and we seek global partnerships to scale up the creator economy," said Naidu during his interactions at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi.
Naidu, who participated in the summit in the national capital, also held meetings with several global technology leaders and industrialists to explore collaborations in artificial intelligence, clean energy and innovation ecosystems.
He met Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Autodesk AI Head Mike Haley, Aramco India Director Abdul Rehman AiThukair, LEGO Education Vice President Tom Hall, Aadhaar Founder and CTO Srikanth Nadhamuni, Khosla Ventures Managing Partner Vinod Khosla and others at the AP Pavilion.
The chief minister also held discussions with Saudi Aramco representatives on clean energy projects, including solar initiatives, and invited the company to expand operations in Andhra Pradesh, stating that the state is highly suitable for green energy production.
He sought support from NVIDIA Vice President Callista Redmond for establishing AI Living Labs and proposed partnerships through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to promote youth innovation, including collaborations with IIT Tirupati and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati under the Andhra Pradesh Future Innovation and Research for Science and Technology (AP FIRST) initiative.
Naidu urged Autodesk leadership to support the development of Global Capability Centres in design engineering and requested the establishment of an Innovation Academy in Amaravati aligned with quantum technology, besides proposing AI and robotics learning labs in partnership with LEGO Education.
He also discussed AI-driven smart governance solutions with Quantela Inc Chairman Sridhar Gadhi, while World Bank Group Digital AI Regional Director Mahesh Uttamchandani met Naidu on the sidelines of the summit.
Following the meetings, Naidu visited various exhibition stalls at the summit, including those of NVIDIA, Tata, Intel and Microsoft, and reviewed AI applications across agriculture, healthcare and industry.
