China has provided secret military training to the Russian army. This training was conducted last year with high-level approval from China. Two European officials stated that at least four generals—from both Russia and China—were directly involved in the training. Documents obtained by Reuters also mention this information. According to the officials, the involvement of such high-ranking military officers in training related to the Ukraine conflict underscores the significance of the growing military cooperation between Russia and China. The matter has sparked concern in Europe, although Beijing has denied that any such training took place. A secret Russian document seen by Reuters refers to an internal directive issued in August 2025 by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. The document states that, in accordance with Belousov’s decision, a delegation from the Russian armed forces traveled to China to participate in training at People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military facilities.
Training on Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Warfare
The same report notes that part of the training program involved a three-week course on radiological, chemical, and biological (RCB) defense, held at a military facility in Beijing in November 2025. Two reports seen by Reuters include photographs showing a Chinese instructor teaching Russian troops. They are shown observing a model of a nuclear reactor and learning techniques for chemical reconnaissance, radiation detection, and protecting ventilation systems from contamination. One of the European officials stated that the inclusion of training on radiological, biological, and chemical warfare highlights the strategic importance of this cooperation. According to the official, this is a highly sensitive issue for military forces worldwide. The defense ministries of Russia and China did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. However, China’s Foreign Ministry stated that Beijing’s position on the Ukraine crisis has remained consistent. The statement added that the allegations raised in the report are completely baseless. China has consistently maintained that it holds a neutral stance regarding the war in Ukraine and wishes to act as a mediator for peace. Last month, citing European intelligence agencies and military documents, Reuters reported that China had trained approximately 200 Russian soldiers in November 2025; some of these troops subsequently participated in the war in Ukraine. At the time, the Kremlin declined to comment on the report but accused Western media of disseminating misinformation. On June 15, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, stated that the EU had confirmed through its own sources that this training had indeed taken place and that the potential implications were now being assessed. China dismissed these remarks as sheer propaganda.
The EU’s Evolving Perspective on China
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European nations have viewed Russia as their primary security threat. Simultaneously, Europe has been closely monitoring the deepening ties between Moscow and China—the world’s second-largest economy. China is a key trading partner of the European Union. Internal discussions within the 27-member bloc are now questioning whether further measures against China are warranted in light of this military training, given that relations with Beijing have historically been driven primarily by commercial interests. The EU has already imposed sanctions on several Chinese entities accused of aiding Russia’s war effort. Another official in Brussels told Reuters that the EU needs to stop viewing China solely through an economic lens; instead, echoing Kaja Kallas’s sentiments, it is crucial to evaluate China’s role as a decisive enabler of Russia’s war.
Two European officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that the agreement underpinning the training program was signed by Russian Major General Rustam Khusainov and Chinese Senior Colonel Sun Daiyun. Conversely, Andrei Kartapolov—a senior lawmaker and chairman of the Russian parliament’s defense committee—told the state-run media outlet RTVI that the reports regarding the training were completely baseless, asserting that the Russian military had nothing to learn from China.
