Ukraine

European Union officials have confirmed that China provided military training to hundreds of Russian soldiers who were subsequently deployed to participate in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

During a briefing in Brussels on June 12, a high-ranking EU representative stated that intelligence services have gathered clear evidence of this training. Training took place across multiple locations within Chinese territory, according to Deutsche Welle.

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On June 15, EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Luxembourg to address this development. The agenda includes a broader discussion on relations with China, focusing on security and foreign policy. Ministers will also examine the European defense industry's reliance on Chinese supply chains and potential strategies to mitigate those dependencies.

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Previous reports from various international sources have suggested that these training programs, which allegedly occurred in late 2025, utilized six military bases in China.

These programs were reportedly focused on the operation of drone systems, electronic warfare tactics, and advanced battlefield simulations. Some of the soldiers involved were reportedly linked to elite Russian drone units that have been active in the front-line regions of Ukraine.

At the same time, Russia launched a three-day exercise involving its nuclear forces on May 19, mobilizing around 64,000 troops and 7,800 units of military equipment just hours before Russian leader Vladimir Putin departed for a two-day trip to China.

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