Reuters Exclusive: China Covertly Trained ~200 Russian Soldiers in Drone Warfare — Troops Already Fighting in Ukraine

A Reuters exclusive published May 19, 2026, based on three European intelligence agencies and documents seen by the outlet, revealed that China's People's Liberation Army secretly trained approximately 200 Russian military personnel in China in late 2025, and those soldiers have since returned to fight in Ukraine. Training focused on drone warfare — specifically using UAVs to direct 82mm mortar fire — and air defense tactics including electronic warfare rifles, net-throwing counter-drone devices, and countering FPV and Shahed-type munitions. Training was conducted at two PLA facilities: the PLA Ground Forces Army Infantry Academy in Shijiazhuang and a military facility in Zhengzhou. A dual-language Russian-Chinese agreement authorizing the program was signed by senior officers in Beijing on July 2, 2025. The revelation directly contradicts China's public position of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war and its self-presentation as a potential peace mediator. European and Ukrainian officials called the training program a serious escalation of Chinese involvement in the conflict. China denied the characterization. The program is smaller than direct weapon transfers but represents the first confirmed direct PLA-to-Russian military training for the Ukraine theater.