The European Union official, who did not want to reveal their name, has confirmed that China has trained “hundreds” of Russian soldiers, with “some” of them subsequently deployed to the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to reports. The official also mentioned that this issue will be discussed at the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting on June 15.
On June 12, multiple media outlets reported that an anonymous EU official stated that the EU’s intelligence department has verified that China trained military personnel for Russia, who later took part in Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine. The training took place in various locations in China, involving “hundreds” of Russian military personnel. This information corroborates an earlier report by Reuters on May 19, which first disclosed that around 200 Russian military personnel underwent training in China in 2025, covering subjects such as unmanned drones, electronic warfare systems, and military aviation.
The EU official further mentioned that China has denied training Russian military personnel involved in the Ukraine conflict, but the EU has concrete evidence to the contrary. The EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the EU-China relationship on June 15, including this issue. Another topic related to China is the EU’s trade relations with China, particularly the reliance of the European defense industry on Chinese suppliers and the potential to reduce this dependence.
According to a report from the German newspaper “Die Welt,” by the end of 2025, hundreds of Russian soldiers participated in a military training program at six different military bases in China. The ranks of the trainees varied, with some being members of Russia’s elite drone units. After the training, dozens of them took part in the conflict in Ukraine, with some assuming command positions.
Reuters, in its report from May, cited information from three European intelligence agencies, revealing a bilateral agreement signed by the Chinese and Russian military in July 2025. According to this agreement, Chinese military personnel could also go to Russia for similar training. By the end of that year, around 200 Russian soldiers were secretly trained at military bases in Beijing, Nanjing, and other areas in China. An European intelligence agency confirmed that several Russian military personnel, after completing training in China, were sent to Crimea and Zaporizhzhia regions in Russian-occupied Ukraine to engage in drone warfare.
Reuters also obtained multiple training reports from within the Russian military, including one from December 2025 documenting 50 Russian military personnel undergoing a “synthetic branch combat” course at the PLA Army Infantry Academy in Shijiazhuang, involving reconnaissance using drones and operating 82mm mortars for strikes.
Following Reuters’ revelation in May about “Russian troops trained in China,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused relevant parties of not provoking confrontation and shifting blame, emphasizing China’s “objective and impartial stance” on the Ukraine crisis and commitment to promoting peace talks. The Russian side openly denied the allegations, calling them “fake news.”