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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[–] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think "fascism" describes modern Russia quite well:

Fascism : a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government

Putin is essentially a dictator who keeps giving himself more time in office. Russians can't elect another leader because Russian "elections" are rigged. And in Russia you will be punished if you vocally disagree with the government: protestors who have voiced opposition to the invasion of Ukraine have been arrested, and in some cases imprisoned for long periods of time. And then there's the fact that Alexei Navalny, an opposition politician who disagreed with the Russian government, was poisoned by the Russian government twice: once in 2020, and again in 2024.

[–] Nonconfrontational@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That definition is a little light, I prefer this one: Fascism : a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not bad, but why not straight from the source.

Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power - Mussolini

[–] Nonconfrontational@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm also a big fan of the way Umberto Eco describes fascism.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That is a pretty good list of descriptors. I think the defining feature of modern fascism is it uses whatever rhetoric it can to gain and keep power. I believe the primary way to measure is wealth distribution. If you see an ever increasing wealth gap it should be raising immediate alarm bells.

[–] Nonconfrontational@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 day ago

Yes, also important to consider that modern fascists are aware of the history of fascism, and try to create space between their ideology and the failures of the 30s and 40s.