Multiple reports, citing documents and sources, say Russia authorizes secret military training involving China at a senior level. Reuters-linked reporting and other outlets describe a classified Russian document that references an internal decree issued by Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in August 2025. The reports state that the approval covers covert drills in which both Russian and Chinese senior personnel participate, with at least four Russian and Chinese generals named as being involved. One outlet also reports that President Vladimir Putin approved the training, while others focus on the defense minister’s decree as the key authorization.
The publications describe the training as taking place “last year,” and frame the disclosures as based on document review. No outlet provides full details of the location, scope, or specific subject matter of the drills beyond senior-level participation and the approval process. The reporting centers on the existence of internal approvals and the involvement of high-ranking commanders rather than confirmed public statements from the Russian or Chinese governments.
