Reuters: Russia secretly sent troops to China for military training

Senior Russian and Chinese military officials took part in covert training exercises linked to the war in Ukraine after the programme was personally approved by Russia's defence minister, according to documents seen by Reuters and European officials.

The Reuters report said the training was authorised by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov under a classified decree issued in August 2025, allowing Russian military personnel to travel to China for courses at facilities operated by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

According to the report, at least four Russian and Chinese generals were directly involved in the programme, which included a three-week course in Beijing in November focusing on radiological, chemical and biological (RCB) protection.

Documents reviewed by Reuters reportedly showed Russian troops receiving instruction from Chinese military personnel on subjects including chemical and radiation reconnaissance, contamination protection and the safeguarding of ventilation systems. Images accompanying the documents allegedly showed Russian soldiers attending lectures and examining a model nuclear reactor.

Two European officials told Reuters that the involvement of such senior military figures underscored the strategic importance both Moscow and Beijing attach to the cooperation. They said the training had heightened concerns in Europe over growing defence ties between the two countries.

China's foreign ministry denied the allegations, saying its position on the war in Ukraine had remained consistent and describing the claims as "entirely unfounded".

Beijing has repeatedly said it is neutral in the conflict and has sought to present itself as a potential peace mediator.

Russia's defence ministry did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. The Kremlin has previously dismissed similar reports as "false information" published in the West.

The report follows a Reuters investigation published last month, which cited European intelligence agencies and military documents as saying that around 200 Russian military personnel received training in China in November, with some later deployed to fight in Ukraine.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in June that the bloc had confirmed through its own channels that the training had taken place and was assessing its implications.

The EU has already imposed sanctions on several Chinese companies it says have supported Russia's war effort, while some European officials argue the bloc should increasingly view China through a security, rather than purely economic, lens.

Reuters said the underlying agreement for the training programme was signed on 2 July 2025 by Russian Major General Rustam Khusainov and Chinese Senior Colonel Sun Dayun. Internal Russian military documents also named Colonel General Rustam Muradov, deputy commander-in-chief of Russia's land forces, Major General Li Jinsun of the PLA and Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov among those involved in the exchanges.

According to Reuters, Russian military assessments praised the quality of Chinese equipment, simulators and instructors, while also noting the PLA's lack of recent combat experience compared with Russian forces, which have been engaged in the war in Ukraine for more than four years.