According to a report published by Der Welt, Chinese military forces are allegedly training Russian personnel for the war in Ukraine. Citing classified documents from various European intelligence services, the report details that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to have conducted covert training programs for several hundred Russian soldiers at six different military locations within China by the end of 2025. The participants, who reportedly spanned various ranks and generational groups, were said to have been born between the 1970s and 2001.
These training programs encompassed operational and tactical skills. Following this initial instruction, the report asserts that dozens of the Russian soldiers were deployed to combat operations in Ukraine starting in early 2026, some of whom held leadership roles. Among the group trained in China were alleged members of “Rubicon” a Russian elite drone unit known for significantly influencing the fighting in various Ukrainian front regions.
This emerging evidence presents increasing pressure on China’s stated position as a neutral great power regarding the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Previously, Beijing’s proposed 12-point plan for mediation between Moscow and Kyiv was met with considerable skepticism across Europe. The now-publicized training cooperation, coupled with the extensive shipments of Chinese dual-use goods to Russia, further fueling doubts regarding the credibility of Beijing’s proclaimed neutrality.