Russia Approved Secret China Military Training At Top Level: Reuters

July 1 (Reuters) – China’s secret military training of Russian forces last year was personally approved by President Vladimir Putin’s defense minister and at least four Russian and Chinese generals were directly involved in the training, according to two European officials and documents seen by Reuters.

The involvement of such senior figures in training linked to the Ukraine war signaled the importance of such cooperation for Russia and China and caused alarm in Europe, although Beijing has denied it was happening, officials said.

A secret Russian document seen by Reuters made direct reference to an internal decree issued by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in August 2025.

It was stated that in accordance with Belousov’s decision, a delegation from the Russian armed forces went to China to participate in training exercises at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) facilities.

The same report also included details of a three-week training course at a military facility in Beijing in November that focused on radiological, chemical and biological protection.

The report and the second report described and displayed images of Russian soldiers being lectured by a Chinese instructor, looking at a model nuclear reactor, and receiving training in “chemical reconnaissance,” “radiation reconnaissance,” and protecting ventilation systems from contamination.

The inclusion of radiological, biological and chemical warfare training underlines the strategic nature of the exchange, one of the European officials said, noting that the issue was particularly sensitive for militaries in general.

The defense ministries of Russia and China did not respond to requests for comment for this article.

China’s foreign ministry said in a statement that its stance on the Ukraine crisis remains consistent.

“The relevant allegations are completely unfounded,” he added, referring to details contained in this report.

Beijing says it is neutral in Russia’s war with Ukraine and presents itself as a peace mediator.

China trained nearly 200 Russian military personnel in November, according to a Reuters report last month citing European intelligence agencies and military documents; Some of them later participated in the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin declined to comment on this report but complained about “incorrect information” published in the West.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on June 15 that Brussels had confirmed through its own channels that the training had taken place and was now assessing its consequences.

Beijing described his comments as “nothing but a smear”.

European powers, which see Russia as the main security threat since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, have cautiously watched the rapprochement of ties between Moscow and China, the world’s second-largest economy and a key trading partner of the EU.

The debate behind closed doors for the 27-member bloc centers around whether further action is needed in response to education, given the trade priorities that have traditionally shaped the relationship with Beijing.

The EU already imposes sanctions on Chinese companies it says support Russia’s war effort.

A third official in Brussels told Reuters that the bloc should stop looking at China primarily from an economic perspective and focus on its role as a “facilitator of Russia’s war,” as Kallas put it.

Both European officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, stated that the signatories of the agreement dated July 2, which forms the basis of the training, are Russian Major General Rustam Khusainov and Chinese Senior Colonel Sun Dayun.

Senior lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov, who heads the Russian parliament’s defense committee, told Russia’s RTVI channel that the report on training was “complete nonsense” and that the Russian military had nothing to learn from China.

Russia has gained extensive experience in more than four years of war in Ukraine, while China, which has a large and technologically advanced military, has not fought a war in decades.

Russian military reports reviewed by Reuters highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of training.

A report on training in Nanjing praised the standard of equipment, the use of simulators and the high theoretical knowledge of the instructors, while specifically noting China’s lack of combat experience.

Other documents include the names of the three generals who participated.

A Russian military document seen by Reuters stated that the names of all participants in the courses, including senior officers, were included, and in each case information about rank, date of birth, affiliation and security clearance level was given.

Colonel General Rustam Muradov, deputy commander-in-chief of Russia’s ground forces, was leading the Russian delegation, according to the list and a second military document seen by Reuters.

According to the latter, Chinese Major General Li Jinsun, head of the Military Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Academy of the PLA, attended the opening of one of the courses.

According to the list, Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov attended a course in Bengbu.

(Edited by Mike Collett-White and Kevin Liffey)