China Trained Russian Military Personnel on Drone Operations, Documents Show
Quick Look
- Documents reveal China secretly trained ~200 Russian military personnel in drone operations within China late last year.
- Some have since returned to fight in Ukraine, indicating a more direct Chinese involvement in the conflict than previously known.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
China has consistently claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, positioning itself as a peace mediator. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Joint military exercises between China and Russia have occurred periodically since the invasion.
According to documents reviewed by three European intelligence agencies and Reuters, China's armed forces secretly trained about 200 Russian military personnel in China late last year, and some of these personnel have since returned to fight in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, this secret training primarily focused on drone operations, with details contained in a Russian-Chinese bilingual agreement signed by senior Russian and Chinese officials in Beijing on July 2, 2025.
The agreement stated that approximately 200 Russian soldiers would be trained at military facilities in cities such as Beijing and Nanjing. Sources said that a number of personnel around this figure subsequently went to China for training.
The agreement also mentioned that hundreds of Chinese soldiers would be trained at Russian military facilities.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China and Russia have held joint military exercises several times. However, Beijing has repeatedly claimed to maintain neutrality in this conflict and has positioned itself as a peace mediator.
An intelligence official stated that China's training of Russian military personnel at operational and tactical levels, followed by their deployment to the Ukrainian war, indicates that China's involvement in the war on the continent is far more direct than previously known.
Neither the Russian nor the Chinese Ministry of Defense responded to requests for comment on the details of this Reuters report.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further investigations into the extent of China's military support for Russia.
Very likely · Within weeks
Increased diplomatic pressure on China from Western nations.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific types of drones were involved in the training?
- What is the exact timeline of the training and deployment of Russian personnel?
- What is the extent of China's knowledge of the specific combat roles these personnel would undertake?
- Will China face international repercussions for this alleged involvement?
