Official, government-deployed Chinese troops are not stationed in Russia, though Beijing has deepened military cooperation with Moscow and some Chinese citizens have been individually recruited to fight for Russian forces.
Official
cooperation
Joint
training: In July 2025, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR)
reported that Russia would train 600 Chinese military personnel on countering
NATO weapons systems, using tactics learned from the war in Ukraine.
Dual-use
technology: While China denies providing lethal weapons, it has supplied
Russia with dual-use items, such as semiconductors and drones, that are vital
to its military-industrial complex.
Joint exercises: Russia and China frequently conduct joint military exercises, primarily naval and air drills, which serve as a strategic signal of their close partnership.
Recruited
fighters
Captured
mercenaries: In April 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
reported the capture of two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia, who claimed
they had been recruited via social media.
Private
citizens, not state-backed: U.S. officials stated that these Chinese
fighters were likely mercenaries with no direct ties to the Chinese government.
Beijing also denied that a significant number of Chinese nationals were
fighting for Russia and stated it asks its citizens to stay away from conflict
zones.
Recruitment ads: Russian military recruitment ads have been widely circulated on Chinese social media platforms like Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok).
Beijing's
strategic position
Claims
of neutrality: China has repeatedly claimed to be a neutral party in the
conflict, advocating for dialogue and peace.
Indirect
support for Moscow: Despite claims of neutrality, China has provided a
critical economic lifeline to Russia by purchasing its energy and bolstering
its economy amid Western sanctions.
Drawing lessons from the war: Western intelligence reports suggest that Beijing has sent Chinese military officers to observe the war from behind Russian lines to learn lessons from the modern conflict.
Official military forces of China, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), have recently been present in Russia primarily for joint naval and land-based training exercises. There is no confirmed information that China has deployed official troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
However, some Chinese nationals have enlisted as mercenaries to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. China maintains it is a neutral party in the conflict.
Chinese
military presence in Russia (2025)
Training
and exercises: In July 2025, Ukrainian intelligence reported that Russia
intended to host approximately 600 Chinese soldiers for training at its
military facilities. This training was reportedly meant to instruct Chinese
personnel on anti-NATO weapon systems and incorporate lessons from Russia's war
against Ukraine.
Naval drills: In August 2025, Russia's Pacific Fleet and the Chinese Navy conducted the "Maritime Interaction–2025" naval exercise in the Sea of Japan. The drill included surface warships, submarines, and anti-submarine, air defense, and live-fire exercises.
Chinese
mercenaries in Russia's war against Ukraine
Recruitment:
Chinese nationals have reportedly been recruited via social media platforms,
like TikTok, to fight for Russia's armed forces in Ukraine.
Reported
presence: In April 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that
two Chinese nationals had been captured fighting for Russia in the Donetsk
region and that hundreds more were serving as mercenaries in Russian military
units.
Official
denial: Following Zelensky's claims, China's Foreign Ministry stated it was
verifying the information with Ukraine and denied that it had sent its
servicemen to participate in the war.
Mercenary status: US intelligence officials have indicated that these Chinese citizens are mercenaries and have no official links to the Chinese government.
https://www.google.com/search?q=are+chinese+troops+in+russia
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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