China secretly trained Russian soldiers for the war in Ukraine

According to Reuters, the training focused on the use of drones, means of electronic warfare, aircraft and armored vehicles of Chinese origin. It took place in military facilities in Beijing and Nanking, where approximately 200 Russian soldiers were trained.

The agreement from July 2025, on the basis of which everything took place, prohibited the publication and provision of information to third parties. Beijing could thus repeatedly emphasize its neutrality in the conflict and present itself as a peacemaker.

However, according to the agency, the operational and tactical level training of Russian military personnel, who then participate in the fighting in Ukraine, shows that China is involved in the war much more directly than previously assumed. This was stated by a member of one of the mentioned European secret services, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the information.

“On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China consistently maintains an objective and impartial position and advocates for peace negotiations, which is also confirmed by the international community. The parties involved should not intentionally incite conflicts or shift the blame to the other,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry officially announced.

In fact, Moscow and Beijing have never been closer. Just a few days before the start of the war in Ukraine, both countries declared a strategic partnership “without borders” and announced the deepening of military cooperation. While the West tried to isolate Russia, China provided it with economic support by buying oil, gas and coal.

In the end, the most important thing came together: Russian combat experience from Ukraine and the huge Chinese industry with drones and advanced training methods, including flight simulators. A significant number of Russian soldiers came out of the training, who became instructors capable of passing on the acquired knowledge further on in command.

According to Western news reports, some Russian soldiers trained in China later directly participated in combat operations with drones in the annexed Crimea and Zaporozhye. They were corporals, but also lieutenant colonels. However, the Reuters agency could not verify this from independent sources.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is to host the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Less than a week after US President Donald Trump visited him in China. Beijing and Moscow are presenting Putin’s visit as evidence of an “all-weather partnership”, despite Western calls for China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine.