China Trains Russian Soldiers for Ukraine Deployment, EU Confirms

An official of the European Union, speaking anonymously, confirmed that China has trained hundreds of Russian troops, chiefly in the operation of unmanned aerial systems. The training took place at six Chinese military facilities during late 2025 and covered drone usage, electronic counter‑measures against drones and advanced battle simulations.

According to the German newspaper Die Welt, participants included members of the elite Rubicon unit. After completing the courses, dozens of these soldiers were sent to Ukraine in early 2026, with some assuming command positions. The EU official said, "The training of Russian soldiers by the Chinese was confirmed by our services."