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World May 21, 2026 07:14 AM

Kremlin Rejects Claims That China Secretly Trained Russian Troops

Moscow calls report false as Beijing emphasizes neutrality and recent talks between presidents touched on Ukraine peace efforts

By Priya Menon

The Kremlin on May 21 rejected a report alleging that about 200 Russian soldiers were covertly trained in China late last year and that some subsequently took part in fighting in Ukraine. A July 2025 Russian-Chinese agreement stated that roughly 200 Russian personnel would receive training at Chinese military facilities, and that hundreds of Chinese troops would train in Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reporting as false information, while China continues to present itself as neutral and has framed its role as a potential mediator in Ukraine-related talks between President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin Rejects Claims That China Secretly Trained Russian Troops

Key Points

  • The Kremlin denied allegations that China's military covertly trained about 200 Russian soldiers in China late last year, some of whom were reported to have fought in Ukraine - sectors impacted include defense and geopolitics.
  • A Russian-Chinese agreement from July 2025 specifies training arrangements: roughly 200 Russian personnel to be trained at Chinese facilities in locations such as Beijing and Nanjing, and hundreds of Chinese personnel to train in Russia - relevant to defense training and military cooperation.
  • Beijing has publicly stated its neutrality on the Ukraine conflict and portrays itself as a possible mediator; Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin discussed peace efforts when they met in China this week - this affects diplomatic relations and international political risk assessment.

MOSCOW, May 21 - The Kremlin on Thursday denied claims that China’s military secretly trained roughly 200 Russian soldiers in China late last year, including allegations that some of those service members later participated in combat operations in Ukraine.

Text of a Russian-Chinese agreement dated July 2025 states that about 200 Russian troops would receive instruction at military facilities in locations including Beijing and the eastern city of Nanjing. The agreement also indicates that hundreds of Chinese personnel would undertake training at military installations in Russia.

When asked about the report on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "A great deal of false information is published by newspapers in both Europe and the United States. This is a problem we face, and such false information must be taken with a pinch of salt." Peskov's comments framed the reporting as part of a broader issue of what he described as misinformation from media outlets.

Chinese authorities maintain that Beijing is neutral in the conflict in Ukraine and have sought to cast themselves as a potential mediator. The two presidents met this week in China, and their discussions included references to efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.

The published terms of the bilateral agreement from July 2025 link training activities in both countries, specifying Chinese training in Russia and Russian training in China at named locations. The Kremlin response on Thursday directly challenged allegations that the training program included covert instruction of Russian soldiers in China late last year and that some of those soldiers subsequently fought in Ukraine.

The narrative from Moscow emphasized caution in accepting media reports about the matter, while Chinese statements reiterate a posture of neutrality and a public-facing role as a peace interlocutor. The presidents' recent discussions on Ukraine peace efforts were cited by Chinese officials following their meeting this week.

Note: The article reflects official statements and the language of the July 2025 agreement as presented; some media assertions about covert training and subsequent battlefield participation were explicitly rejected by Kremlin officials.

Risks

  • Conflicting narratives and disputed media reports create uncertainty around official accounts of military cooperation, raising reputational and political risks for governments and defense stakeholders - this may influence defense-sector perceptions.
  • Ambiguity surrounding personnel movements and training programs could heighten geopolitical tensions and complicate market assessments for firms tied to defense, aerospace, or government contracting - uncertainty for investor sentiment in those sectors.

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