Despite claiming to have taken a neutral stand in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China has secretly trained Moscow’s soldiers in recent times, a new report claimed. A three-week session focused on radiological, chemical and biological protection was reportedly offered to Russian forces at a military facility in Beijing in November 2025.
In November alone, at least 200 Russian soldiers attended training lessons in China many of them have already been deployed in Ukraine, the report claimed. Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted Andrei Belousov to personally ensure the training went ahead. High-ranking Russian military generals were part of the contingent that touched down in Beijing for the initiative, Reuters reported, quoting a classified document.
Colonel General Rustam Muradov, deputy commander-in-chief of Russia’s land forces, led the Russian delegation, according to the list and a second military document seen by Reuters. Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov took part in a course in Bengbu, according to the list. The news agency also revealed that Chinese Major General Li Jinsun, head of the PLA’s Military Academy of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence, took part in the opening of one of the courses.
During the course of the training, a Chinese instructor reportedly used a model nuclear reactor to explain “chemical reconnaissance”, “radiation reconnaissance” and protecting ventilation systems from contamination to the soldiers.
Amidst intelligence reports of Putin preparing for another major offensive against Kyiv, the mention of chemical and biological warfare is not good news for the West.
But what is in it for China? Military analysts say the PLA’s interest is nothing new. Despite its numerical and technological superiority, the Chinese forces lack battlefield experience. They haven’t fought a real war in decades, and the Chinese Communist Party facing no violent dissidents means there have been no internal threats either.
The Taiwan issue remains unsettled, and the battle-hardened Russians can teach the PLA a lesson or two if exchanges like these are organised. The Russians are already aided by North Korea for similar reasons. The defence ministries of Russia and China did not respond to requests for comment, Reuters said in the original report.