Russian Fighters Allegedly Trained In China Rejoin Ukraine War: Reports

China’s armed forces secretly trained around 200 Russian military personnel late last year, with some of those troops later returning to participate in combat operations in Ukraine, according to European intelligence agencies and documents reviewed by Reuters. The covert programme reportedly focused heavily on drone warfare and marked a deeper level of military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow than previously disclosed publicly.

The training arrangement was outlined in a dual-language Russian-Chinese agreement signed in Beijing on July 2, 2025, by senior military officers from both countries. According to the documents, Russian troops were trained at military facilities in cities including Beijing and Nanjing, while hundreds of Chinese soldiers were also scheduled to undergo training in Russia. The agreement reportedly prohibited media coverage and instructed both sides not to inform third parties about the visits.

The revelations come despite repeated claims by China that it remains neutral in the Ukraine conflict. Beijing has publicly positioned itself as a potential mediator in the war while maintaining close economic and strategic ties with Moscow. China and Russia had declared a “no limits” partnership shortly before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the two countries have since expanded military coordination through joint exercises and defence cooperation.

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According to intelligence officials cited in the report, the training included instruction in drone operations, electronic warfare, army aviation and armoured infantry tactics. One internal Russian military report described mortar exercises in which soldiers used drones to identify targets, while another detailed air defence drills involving electronic warfare rifles, anti-drone nets and drone interception systems. Additional sessions reportedly covered explosives handling, mine clearance and the use of drone flight simulators.

European intelligence agencies believe the programme provided Russian forces with access to China’s advanced drone expertise and training infrastructure at a time when unmanned aerial systems have become central to the war in Ukraine. Several of the Russian personnel trained in China were reportedly military instructors capable of transferring operational knowledge to other units. One intelligence agency said some trainees were later identified in combat roles involving drone operations in occupied Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia region.

China’s Foreign Ministry denied accusations of direct involvement in the conflict, reiterating that Beijing maintains an “objective and impartial stance” and supports peace negotiations. Neither the Russian nor Chinese defence ministries responded to requests for comment on the reported training programme. The revelations emerged ahead of a planned visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping amid growing scrutiny from Western nations over Beijing’s relationship with Moscow.

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