An investigative report by Reuters revealed that the Russian government approved secret military training for Russian personnel in China last year, with direct consent from Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and participation from at least four senior officers from both countries.
Reuters cited information from two European military officials and confidential Russian military documents stating that the covert training program for Russian forces in China last year was personally approved by Andrey Belousov, Russian Minister of Defense, with at least four generals from Russia and China directly involved in the process.
Top-secret Russian documents indicate that in August 2025, Belousov issued an internal order approving a Russian military delegation's travel to China to participate in joint military exercises at People's Liberation Army training facilities. European officials noted that such high-level involvement in training linked to the Ukraine war underscores the strategic importance both countries place on this cooperation.
The report details that one of the training courses lasted three weeks at a military camp in Beijing last November, focusing on "radiation, chemical, and biological hazard defense systems."
Additionally, documents include photos showing Russian soldiers attending lectures by Chinese instructors, studying nuclear reactor models, and receiving training on "Chemical Reconnaissance," "Radiation Reconnaissance," and techniques to protect ventilation systems from toxic contamination.
A European official commented that combining nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare courses highlights the strategic nature of this military exchange, as these topics are highly sensitive for armed forces worldwide.
Russian military secret documents list all participants in detail, including ranks, birth dates, affiliations, and security clearance levels. Notably, General A. Rustam Muradov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Ground Forces, led the Russian delegation to China; Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, a prominent Russian general, trained in Bengbu; Major General Li Jinsun, commander of the Chinese military's Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense College, attended the course opening. Major General Rustam Kusainov (Russia) and Special Colonel Sun Daiyun (China) signed the foundational agreement on 2 July to support the training.
Although China’s technology is advanced, an internal Russian military assessment sent to Moscow offered an intriguing view. The report from training in Nanjing praised China's high-standard equipment, excellent simulation systems, and theoretically knowledgeable instructors but identified a key weakness: China lacks real combat experience, unlike Russia, which has accumulated extensive combat experience in Ukraine over more than four years, while China has not engaged in actual warfare for decades.
Andrey Kartapolov, Chairman of the Russian Parliamentary Defense Committee, vehemently denied the reports on RTVI, calling the training claims "complete nonsense" and stating the Russian military has nothing to learn from China.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement rejecting all allegations as baseless, reaffirming China's neutral stance on the Ukraine crisis and willingness to act as a peace mediator. Meanwhile, the Kremlin declined to comment but labeled the reports as "false information" from Western sources.
However, Kaja Kallas, European Union Chief Foreign Policy Officer, confirmed the EU has independently verified the military training occurred and is currently assessing its security implications.
The European Union faces a major challenge in considering responses to China, as China remains a key trade partner and the world’s second-largest economic power. Yet, senior EU officials have begun warning that "Europe must stop viewing China solely through an economic lens" and must instead recognize China as a "significant supporter driving Russia's war," potentially leading to additional sanctions on Chinese technology companies in the future.
/sourceReuters