Sources claim Chinese military personnel discreetly trained Russian soldiers in advanced warfare techniques, with some later deployed to Ukraine, according to European intelligence reports and documents reviewed by Reuters.
China is alleged to have quietly conducted training for around 200 Russian military personnel on its territory in late 2025, with some of those troops subsequently returning to active combat roles in Ukraine, according to three European intelligence agencies and documents obtained by Reuters.
While Beijing and Moscow have regularly engaged in joint military drills since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China continues to publicly insist it is neutral in the conflict and positions itself as a potential mediator.
The training arrangement, described in a bilingual Russian-Chinese agreement signed by senior officers in Beijing on July 2, 2025, reportedly covered military instruction in locations including Beijing and Nanjing. The document, seen by Reuters, indicated that roughly 200 Russian personnel would participate in programs focused largely on drone warfare and related technologies.
Intelligence sources said the training emphasized modern battlefield systems, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles, with participants later returning to operations connected to the war in Ukraine. The agreement also reportedly made provisions for reciprocal training, allowing Chinese troops to receive instruction in Russia.
One intelligence official said the development suggests a deeper level of military involvement by China in the Ukraine conflict than previously understood, particularly given the operational nature of the training.
China’s foreign ministry rejected allegations of involvement in the war, stating that it maintains an impartial position and continues to encourage peace negotiations, warning against claims that could inflame or assign blame unfairly.
The training reportedly included instruction in drone operations, electronic warfare, armoured tactics, and infantry coordination. The agreement also allegedly barred media coverage and restricted disclosure of the visits to third parties.
Sources said Russian personnel trained in China were drawn from various ranks, including instructors capable of passing acquired skills down their military chains of command. Some individuals are believed to have later participated in drone-related operations in occupied Ukrainian regions, though this has not been independently confirmed.
European officials say the collaboration reflects growing strategic ties between Moscow and Beijing, which declared a “no limits” partnership shortly before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since then, China has continued economic engagement with Russia, including energy purchases, even as Western nations attempt to isolate Moscow.
Military experts note that while Russia brings extensive battlefield experience from Ukraine, China’s rapidly growing defence industry offers advanced technological capabilities, particularly in drone development and simulation based training.
Reports also indicate that Chinese military units have previously engaged in exercises in Russia since 2024, but the reverse flow Russian troops training in China is a more recent development.
According to internal Russian documents reviewed by Reuters, training sessions included simulated combat scenarios, drone-assisted targeting exercises, electronic warfare countermeasures, and engineering skills such as mine clearance and explosives handling.
Some reports described instruction at PLA-linked military facilities, where Russian personnel were taught to integrate drones with ground operations and adapt to rapidly evolving battlefield conditions shaped by unmanned systems.
Neither China’s defence ministry nor Russia’s military authorities responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
Analysts say the reported cooperation underscores increasing alignment between the two countries, even as global scrutiny grows over their expanding strategic partnership and its implications for the war in Ukraine
Goodness Anunobi
