Secret military exercises of Russian forces by China last year were personally approved by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's defense minister and directly involved at least four Russian and Chinese generals, Reuters reports, citing two European officials and documents, writes UNN.
Details
Officials said the involvement of such high-ranking individuals in the exercise related to the war in Ukraine underscores the importance for Russia and China of such cooperation, which has caused alarm in Europe, even as Beijing denies its existence.
A secret Russian document reviewed by Reuters directly mentions an internal order issued by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in August 2025.
It states that, in accordance with Belousov's decision, a delegation of the Russian armed forces traveled to China to participate in training exercises at facilities of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The same report details one of the training courses – a three-week course on radiological, chemical, and biological protection at a military facility in Beijing in November.
The report and a second report describe and show images of Russian soldiers being lectured by a Chinese instructor, examining a model of a nuclear reactor, and learning "chemical reconnaissance," "radiation reconnaissance," and protection of ventilation systems from contamination.
The inclusion of training in radiological, biological, and chemical warfare highlighted the strategic nature of the exchanges, said one of the European officials, noting that this topic is particularly sensitive for the military in general.
The defense ministries of Russia and China, it is stated, did not respond to requests for comment on this article.
China's Foreign Ministry said its position on the "Ukrainian crisis" (as Beijing calls the war) remained unchanged.
"The relevant allegations are completely groundless," they added, referring to the details contained in this report.
Beijing has declared its neutrality in Russia's war with Ukraine and positions itself as a mediator in a peaceful settlement.
According to a Reuters report last month citing European intelligence services and military documents, China trained about 200 Russian military personnel in November, some of whom later joined the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the report but complained about "false information" published in the West.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on June 15 that Brussels had confirmed through its own channels the fact that the training took place and is now assessing its consequences.
Beijing called her comments "sheer slander."
European states, which have viewed Russia as the main threat to their security since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, have watched warily as ties between Moscow and China, the world's second-largest economy and a key EU trading partner, have strengthened.
For the 27-member bloc, "the closed-door discussion is focused on whether further measures are needed in response to the training, given the trade priorities that traditionally shape relations with Beijing," the publication states.
The EU has already imposed sanctions on Chinese companies that it says support Russia's war effort.
A third official in Brussels told Reuters that the bloc should stop viewing China primarily through an economic lens and instead focus on what Kallas called its role as a "decisive factor enabling Russia's war."
Kallas urged China to stop supporting Russia's war against Ukraine03.07.25, 04:37
Both European officials named the signatories of the July 2 agreement underlying the training as Russian Major General Rustam Khusainov and Chinese Senior Colonel Sun Dayong.
Andrei Kartapolov, a senior deputy who chairs the Russian parliament's defense committee, said on Russian television that the report on the training is "complete nonsense" and that the Russian military has nothing to learn from China.
Internal Russian military reports reviewed by Reuters noted the strengths and weaknesses of the training.
One report on the training in Nanjing praised the level 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 named three generals who participated.
One Russian military document reviewed by Reuters listed the names of each participant in all courses, including senior officers, indicating rank, date of birth, affiliation, and level of security clearance in each case.
According to the list and a second military document reviewed by Reuters, the Russian delegation was led by Colonel General Rustam Muradov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces.
According to the latter, Chinese Major General Li Jinsun, head of the PLA Military Academy of Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Protection, took part in the opening of one of the courses.
Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, according to the list, participated in a course in Bengbu.