Reuters: About 200 Russian troops secretly trained in China, the first known case since the war began
About 200 Russian military personnel trained in China in late 2025 under a secret bilateral agreement, Reuters reported, citing documents and sources in three European intelligence services.
The training was conducted at facilities in Beijing and Nanjing and covered drones, explosives, mines, and electronic warfare systems.
Chinese military personnel have been traveling to Russia for training since at least 2024, Reuters’ intelligence sources said, but Russian troops training in China had not previously been reported.
At least some of the troops who trained in China later took part in drone operations in Crimea and Zaporizhzhia region, European sources told the agency.
China’s authorities have consistently maintained a neutral stance since the start of the full-scale war. At the same time, Beijing continues to supply Russia with dual-use goods that are subsequently used in the defense industry.
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